A Dash of Apple Sauce: chapter 4

>You continued walking through the town of P0nyville, towards Twilight’s house. She seemed more than happy to help you, most likely because of your status as a living, breathing, mythical creature.

“So Applejack, what’s the deal with the tattoos?”

>”The what now?”

“You know, the markings on your flank.”

>”Oh, you talkin about mah cutie mark? It shows what a ponies’ special talent is.”

>In Applejack’s case, her flank sported a marking of 3 red apples.

“Your name is Applejack, and your special talent is Apples? I can’t quite see the connection.” you say sarcastically.

>Applejack snorts. “Ah’ don’t appreciate sarcasm, Anon. Whatd’ya doing staring at mah flank for, anyways?”

>Did she just insinuate…

>Oh no she didn’t.

“I… um, well… you see…”

>You try to make a rebuttal but you stammer on your words, spaghetti threatening to overflow from your pockets.

>Applejack erupts into a fit of laughter. “Darnit Anon, your face is so red ah could mistake it for one of my apples!”

>Just ignore it…

>”Well, looks like we’re here.” Twilight says. Before you stands a tall tree with windows set in it.

“You live in a tree? Seriously?”

>”Well, yes, I do. Is there something wrong with that?”

“Well, I’m in a world of candy coloured talking equines, some of who can fly and some of who can use magic. So, no, I suppose living in a tree is pretty normal.”

>”Well, Anonymous, it’s been a pleasure meeting you, but I simply must get back to Carousel Boutique. Do come and visit if you ever wish to replace those rags of yours.”

“Err, thanks, I guess? See ya around, Rarity.”

>Fluttershy looks up at you. ”I’ve got to get back to my animals as well. You’re welcome to come and visit them if you want.”

“I might be a little busy, but if I’ve got the time I’ll take you up on that offer. Oh, and get your wings checked out, being that stiff can’t be good for them.”

>She blushes again, before flying off. Weird p0ny.

>Twilight leads you inside, and Applejack and Rainbow Dash follow you in.

>So.

>Many.

>BOOKS!

“Twilight, please tell me this is a public library and you don’t actively own and read all these books.”

>”Oh, this place was a library when I moved in. But I have read most of these, when I get a break from my studies.”

“…Whatever. Do you know where a spell for curing amnesia would be? It’s really unnerving not being able to remember who you are.”

>”Of course! Just let me look. Hmm, A… Am… Amn… ah! Here we go!”

>Her horn glows and a book levitates down from a shelf far above your head.

>”Amnesia: causes and cures!”

>The next few minutes pass in silence as she skims through the book, occasionally humming or tsking. After what seemed like forever, she finally closes the book over and faces you.

>”Ok, Anonymous, I’m going to ask you to remain calm and stay still. This’ll only take a second.”

“Got it.”

>Her horns glows and you are assaulted by hundreds of images, like an ersatz slideshow in your brain. You cry out and grasp your head, collapsing to the floor. You distantly hear someone cry out.

>Before you completely succumb to the darkness, you remember. You remember her. You try to speak, but before you can, you black out.

 

>”Wake up Anon! Wake up!”

>You are brought to by violent shaking. You open your eyes and see Rainbow Dash hovering over you, her eyes filled with concern.

>”Dude, are you ok? You totally just collapsed right there!”

“I’m fine… no, actually, I’m not. I’m really not.”

>Twilight levitates you onto your feet where you balance shakily.

“Well, did it work? Can you remember anything?” she asks enthusiastically.

“Yeah. I can remember everything.”

>Applejack beams. ”Well that’s great! Ain’t it Twilight!”

“No. It’s not great. This is the worst thing that could have happened to me.”

>Rainbow Dash snorts. “Cmon Anonymous, what could possibly be bad?”

>You clench your fists.

“Julie. She’s my wife. She’s not here. That’s what’s bad.”

>A deathly silence descends upon the library.

>”Your… your wife? You’re married?” Twilight asks hesitantly.

“Yes. I can’t wait around, I have to try and get back to her. Who do you know that could send me back to earth! Please, tell me!” You are now in near hysterics.

>”C-calm down Anon! This’ll be ok.”

“No! It’s not ok! What if I can’t get back! What will she do! What-“

>Applejack cuts you off. “Anonymous, calm yerself down. It’s a darn shame that you’re separated from your special somep0ny but runnin around like a headless chicken won’t do nothin to help us!”

>Her words calm you. It’s exactly like what Julie would say in this situation.

“Ok… I’m calm. Sorry.”

>Twilight pipes up. ”I can ask Princess Celestia to help. She taught me everything I know, if anyp0ny knows how to get you home, it’s her.”

“A princess? When can we go see her?”

>”As it so happens, I already arranged for us to visit her when Rainbow Dash came round and told me of your arrival. Everything is taken care of, Anon. This’ll be ok.”

“Thank you. I cannot repay you for this.”

>She blushes. “It’s nothing. I’m just helping out a po-human in need.”

>You sigh and collapse into a nearby chair.

“So what do we do until tomorrow?

>Rainbow Dash swoops down and sits in your lap. “You wanna go to the park and see me do some tricks?”

“I suppose I have nothing better to do. Applejack?”

>”You know the way t’ the farm, sugarcube. Just come up when you feel like it. You can stay in the guest room, it’s not a bother at all.”

“Cheers Applejack, that means a lot to me.”

>”Cmon Anonymous, let’s go!”

>You are dragged through the doorway by an over-enthusiastic Pegasus.

>”Meet you at the train station tomorrow!” Twilight shouts from the tree house.

 

>”Hey Anonymous! Watch this!”

“Yeah, I’m watching.” You say flatly.

>”No you aren’t! You’re staring off into space!”

“What’d you say? Didn’t quite catch that.”

>”Anon, are you ok?”

“I’m fine…”

>Rainbow Dash lands by you and approaches you. “Dude, something’s wrong. My last three tricks didn’t even get a peep out of you!”

>You groan and cover your eyes, leaning backwards into the grass.

“I’m just worried. Worried about Julie. What if I’m stuck here? What happens then? How will she cope?”

>Rainbow Dash looks at you, then suddenly wraps her front legs around you and snuggles up into your chest.

“Whoa, what the hell!” You try to pry the Pegasus off you but her grip is as tight as a vice.

>”Just stop worrying. Everything’ll be alright.” She says, her head lying on your chest.

>The hug actually feels pretty good, and it sure as hell takes your mind of worrying.

>You sit there for a while, basking in the sun’s rays, the blue Pegasus snuggled up to you.

>”So, Anon… got any stories?” Rainbow Dash looks up at you with almost childlike wonder.

>Shit. Your life was good, but your job wasn’t particular exciting, you didn’t want to talk about Julie and you hadn’t really had any story-worthy moments.

>Suddenly, you get an idea.

“Listen close Dash, and I’ll tell you a story.”

>She looks at you, completely focused on what you had to say.

“The year was 1939, and war was brewing...”

 

“And then the Emperor surrendered, and it was over. 6 long years, millions of lives, military and civilian alike, but it was over. So, whad’ya think?”

>She looks at you in shock. “That really happened?”

“Yeah, it did. I’d like to say we’ve moved on from such horrors, but even to this day we still fight wars.”

>Rainbow Dash looks off into the distance, thinking, before looking back up at you.

>”Have you ever fought in a war?”

“Me? No. I don’t agree with war. It’s a perpetuating system of hate, fear and death.”

>Silence falls upon you as you both lie there, looking up.

“Cmon, let’s get these depressing thoughts out of our heads. If I remember correctly, Pinkie Pie is throwing me a party?”

>”Oh yeah, I forgot about that. It’ll probably be at Sweet Apple Acres, let’s go!”

 

>By the time you reach Sweet Apple Acres, the sun had fallen leaving the moon standing high in the night sky.

>You and Rainbow Dash enter the house, and are immediately greeted by Pinkie Pie.

>”Hiya Anonymoose! I heard from Applejack that you were feeling really sad so I worked even harder to get this party started!”

“Hehe, thanks Pinkie. I could use a pick me up.”

>”Well step right in! Ponies are meeting to wait you in the kitchen.”

>Over the course of the night, you meet and are introduced to many of the townsfolk. Derpy Hooves, the mail mare, who almost spilled a pitcher of punch over you: Lyra Heartstrings, who seemed entranced by your hands much to the disdain of her friend Bonbon: Big Macintosh, Applebloom and Granny Smith, the other members of the Apple clan. This last individual was particular interesting, as she told you a tale of when she was a little filly.

>”I was just playing around in th’orchards, when suddenly a hooman comes out of nowhere! Only it wasn’t any old hooman it was a metal hooman! A, a… a mandroid! And then today, you come out of the orchards as well!”

“Well Granny Smith, if I ever meet this… “Mandroid” chap, I’ll tell him Granny Smith says hi.”

>You make your excuses and head over to the punch to top up your glass.

>”Sorry about that Anon, Granny Smith ain’t right in the head these days. She got the idea of a metal human from some book she read as a filly, “Brothers in Equestria” or some nonsense.”

“Don’t worry about it Applejack. Listen, I think I’ll turn in for the night. I’m wrecked.”

>”Sure thing. Guest room is up the stairs, second on the left. See ya in the morning.”

>You say goodnight to her and the rest of her friends and head up the stairs. You collapse onto the guest bed, not even bothering to get under the covers. Sleep comes to you instantly.