Chapter 10: Cooking in the Kitchen
In the Castle Kitchen:
The two Applejacks and the rest of the kitchen staff are making sure the banquet is ready. Since this year gala is going to have twice as many ponies than last year they need to make sure that there is enough food for everyone.
"Phew, that sure is a lot of desserts we still need to make," Human Applejack replies feeling a little tired from all the cooking and baking.
"You're telling me, but luckily some of the chefs in the castle staff are helping us," Pony Applejack agrees with her human counterpart.
"That's good and glad I can help with the gala too," Human Applejack says feeling happy to help.
"You can say that again," Pony Applejack replies.
As the two Applejacks are making the desserts, the Human Applejack notices that some of the apples that the pony version of herself is using looks very different from any other apple she's seen. Human Applejack decides to asks about the strange color apples, "So what's with this rainbow color apple?"
Pony Applejack turns to her human counterpart with a confused look on her face, "You mean you never heard of a zap apple before?"
"Nope," Human Applejack simply answers.
"Well I can tell you one thing you're going to be in for a treat when you try one of these," Pony Applejack says with a big glee on her face.
"Are they really that good," Human Applejack asks curiously.
"They sure are. Plus we wouldn't have have these if it wasn't for my granny smith," Pony applejack replies with glee.
"There's a Granny Smith here too?" Human Applejack says surprisingly.
"Yes, not to mention my brother and sister," Pony Applejack adds.
"So how did your granny Smith found these apples anyway?" Human Applejack asks
"Well it's a long story," Applejack replies think about Human Applejack's suggestion.
"I can listen while we work," Applejack replies feeling to hear the story.
Pony Applejack decides to tell her human counterpart the story, "Okay, it took place long before Ponyville was founded. My Granny was a young filly and her family was pilgrim ponies traveling to different places and collecting seed to plan until they can settle. Then they reach to the Canterlot one of the biggest cities in Equestria. After looking around the city they meet Princess celestia and being a royal princess she told them a place for them to call home."
"Wait, so your princess was there when your grandmother is young?" Human Applejack replies questioning about their princess.
"Yes," Pony Applejack simply answers.
"Uh how old is she, because she looks very young when I saw her?" Human Applejack asks.
"Well alicorns are immortal so they live for ever I guess they stay young for a long time too," Pony Applejack explains.
"Wow and where was Luna at that?" Human Applejack ask feeling amazed.
"On the moon," Pony Applejack simply answers.
"On the moon? How is that possible?" Human Applejack asks surprisingly.
"That is another story for another time,"
"Anyway, after that they found the land in the Everfree forest and build a home and planted their seeds. The only problem is that they didn't have much food with them, so one night my granny decides to go into the Everfree forest even though it's not safe to enter," Pony Applejack says continuing the story.
Human Applejack starts to feel scared about hearing the forest and says, "I think I know what you mean, there is a forest that goes by that very same name back at home. A lot of people usually stay away from there because they believe that it is haunted and has dangerous animals in their."
Pony Applejack decides to continue telling the story yet hopefully will make her human counterpart feel more comfortable, "Trust me, it is scary but Granny knew she need to find some foods, until she came across the zap apple trees. She had never seen these kind of apple, so decides to take some to pick back. That is until the timber wolves cam after her and granny decides to head back to her house and fast, She decides to grab a pot and bang it against the cauldron, with that scared the timber wolves."
"Wow your Granny sure is brave to go to that forest alone," Applejack replies with amazement.
"I know after that, they planted the zap apple seeds and grew faster than any plant. So each year's Granny paid attention to the signs of the Zap Apples harvesting times, like weather change, timber wolves howls, a lightnings on the trees, and a rainbow to complete it off. After the last day the apples just simply zap away if it wasn't picked in a single day," Applejack continues the story.
"Wow that is amazing and difficult that you only have one day to pick a whole orchard of apples," Human Applejack replies feeling confused.
"I know, but is so worth it," Applejack reassure her about the apple work.
Hearing about the apples makes Human Applejack feel curious about the zap apples rules of growing, then there might be for making them into a dessert.
"And let me guess making food with zap apple has their own rule?" Applejack asks guessing about the apples.
Pony Applejack smile because her counter part asks about the apple's special rules, "You hit the nail on the head. That also when Granny first made the jam but found out that there are special rules to make the jam just like with the fruits themselves."
"Like what?" Human Applejack asks.
Pony Applejack thinks about the kind of rule Granny Smith did to make zap apple jam. Then Pony Applejack says,"That one is going to be hard to explain."
"That's okay it you don't have to if you want," Human Applejack replies happily.
"Alright but trust me it is kind of weird," Pony Applejack replies feeling a little embarrassed about some of the details.
"Okay," Human Applejack simply answers. Then they continue to take the desserts to the dining hall.
As they carry the desserts, Human Applejack asks."So in this world you're the element of honesty right?"
"Yep," Pony Applejack answers happily.
"So you never lied before," Human Applejack asks happily.
That make Pony Applejack saden and says, "Well, I did once but I never meant to."
"Really, what happen?" Human Applejack asks surprisingly.
Pony Applejack groans and says, "The Flim Flam Brothers."
That makes Human Applejack really angry and says,"You mean to tell me that those two conarist are in your world too."
"No kidding," Pony Applejack answers feeling annoyed.
"So what happen?" Human Applejack asks curiously.
Pony Applejack knows that she has to tell her, so she decides to explain what happen, "Well they tried to con the ponies in believing that there is a special tonic that can cure anything."
"Let me guess the whole miracle tonic is a fake," Human Applejack asks suspiciously.
Pony Applejack hangs her head down, feeling sad and says, "Yeah and I was afraid to tell everyone when I found out the tonic wasn't real and worry they will be disappointed."
After hearing her pony counterpart predicament makes her remember of the time she was in her shoes or hooves for that matter. So she decides to tell her so she won't feel alone about having to lie, "Well to be honest I was in that same position as you once."
Pony Applejack eyes widen after putting the pies on the table and surprisingly says, "You were?"
Human Applejack decides to explain to her about her situation that lead to a hard decision, "Yeah they try to con people in think that a drink product was strong but I found out it was just orange juice. Only problem they told if I told the truth then everyone will not be happy about telling the truth so I kept it a secret. But then my sister almost got her trying to lift a something really big so I had to tell them the truth. Sure they were a little disappointed but realize that believing in their lie was a lot worse."
Pony Applejack smile and says, "I can imagine."
"That's when I realize that even though the truth might hurt some people believing in a lie can hurt ya even more," Human Applejack replies.
Just then Human Applejack starts to glow orange and lifts up in the air. Then she grows pony ears and a ponytail in a braid. After that she ends up on the ground feeling happy.
"Wow, that is incredible," Pony Applejack replies in excitement.
"You can say that again," Human Applejack says feeling happy.
Then they starts to laugh and then continue working on the table for the gala.