- Welcome to CanterU: Roll in the Hay+ Edition!
 - The Story So Far: http://pastebin.com/u/Kiyo3
 - Yesterday with posts: >>http://archive.heinessen.com/mlp/thread/14091724
 - >Damn this bed...
 - >It's so soft.
 - >You just can't beat homemade sheets.
 - >And a homemade bed.
 - >Wait, where are you again?
 - "Mornin', sleepyhead."
 - >You open your eyes to see Applejack in the doorway.
 - >You look around.
 - >Not your regular dorm room.
 - >Everything looks so... farmish...
 - "Ya know we're on a farm, right?"
 - >Yeah.
 - >You're just messing with Applejack.
 - >A roll out of bed and kiss her.
 - "If ya hurry, Ah can introduce ya to mah folks before we get to work."
 - >Ok, su-
 - >Did she say work?
 - "It's what we here on the farm call, 'Applebuckin' season'."
 - >And you're helping because...?
 - "We haven't... The farm isn't turnin' out the apples like it used ta..."
 - >Applejack rubs her arm.
 - >Hey, it's okay.
 - >There can't be so many apples to harvest.
 - >You'll have it done in no time flat.
 - >Applejack smiles a little, but she knows you're exaggerating for her sake.
 - "Ah... Ah think we'll manage someth-"
 - "Applejack? Is'at you?"
 - >A feeble sounding voice from downstairs.
 - "Granny Smith... Ah didn't get ta see her last night."
 - >Applejack heads down stairs.
 - "If ya want'a shower, it's two doors down an' left."
 - >Thanks.
 - A. Shower
 - B. Go down stairs
 - C. Sleep
 - >You can't meet your girlfriend's folks smelling like an art museum.
 - >Because, apparently, the scent of Rarity and plaster...
 - >It's still on you.
 - >It haunts you.
 - >But it's nothing a shower can't fix.
 - >Two doors down...
 - >And a left...
 - >Here it is.
 - >It's small, just a tub, sink, and shower head.
 - >Assumed cabinet for toiletries as well.
 - >It's... modest...
 - >You deleted "poor" from your vocabulary for the span of your visit.
 - >There's a single towel.
 - >Purplish... but it will do.
 - >You brush your teeth and turn on the shower.
 - >Warm.
 - >You didn't plan on that.
 - >You probably should've skipped going to the museum.
 - >The traffic getting to the farm was ridiculous.
 - >Considering the short distance..
 - >You turn off the water and put on the towel.
 - >A knock at the door.
 - "Big Mac? Applejack? Are any'a in there?"
 - >Who's that?
 - >It sounds... young.
 - >Applejack mentioned a little sister before.
 - "Ah guess they ain't in there..."
 - >The door knob turns.
 - >Wait, don't come in-
 - "Ah! Who are ya?!"
 - >You'r-
 - >She looks down.
 - "Mah CMC blanket!"
 - >CMC?
 - >Is that a clothing line or something?
 - "Granny! Applejack! Big Mac! There's a man in 'ere!"
 - "A man? Big Mac, go 'n check on yer sister!"
 - "Eeyup!"
 - >This situation is spiraling out of control.
 - >Fast.
 - >Pretty soon, Big Mac, followed by Applejack helping an old woman walk, appear in the doorway.
 - >The girl stops screaming.
 - "See?! Ah told ya-"
 - "Anon?"
 - >Applejack blushes.
 - "Sorry ya'll. Ah fergot ta introduce ya'll last night... This is Anon... Mah boyfriend..."
 - >After a small discussion on bathroom etiquette, you find yourself sitting at a table downstairs.
 - >You find out the screaming girl's name is Applebloom.
 - >Freshman in high school.
 - >Perfect lolita candidate.
 - >Because everyone read the book, right?
 - >Makes perfect sense.
 - >Granny Smith and Applejack are cooking something.
 - >Smells delicious.
 - >Big Mac takes a seat next to Applebloom.
 - >First impressions are always wet...
 - A. Big Mac
 - B. Applebloom
 - C. Applejack
 - D. Granny Smith
 - >You turn to Applebloom.
 - >Sorry about the blanket.
 - "It's alright. Ah put it out in the sun ta dry."
 - >She moves her chair closer to yours.
 - "So, yer datin' mah big sister? How's that like?"
 - >It's... nice.
 - "Ain't she just amazin'? Ah wish Ah was more like her..."
 - >Applejack is quite amazing.
 - >In and out of bed.
 - >But mostly out of bed.
 - >She's great company and [insert compliments].
 - >Just being in college is fun.
 - "Ah know! Applejack writes all the time. Ah can't wait to go in a few years."
 - >That bubble's gonna burst.
 - >Hard.
 - >You around.
 - >Things can't be that bad.
 - >Can it?
 - >How's school for Young Applejack.
 - "High school's hard as nails. Ah don't know how ta go on..."
 - >And wait till she gets to college.
 - "Why? What's wrong with it?"
 - >Two words.
 - >Art.
 - >History.
 - >Applebloom gasps.
 - >Truestory.jpg
 - >What does she want to do in college anyway?
 - "Ah don't got a clue... Maybe Agricultural stuff, like Applejack!"
 - >Is nice to dream.
 - "Yeah..."
 - >The smile fades.
 - >She knows.
 - "Alright ya'll! Soup's on!"
 - >Applejack carries the food to the table and pulls a chair for Granny Smith.
 - "That looks amazin', Applejack!"
 - >Applebloom reaches over the table to grab some, but the hand meets cane.
 - "Applebloom, we ain't said the pr'yer yet!"
 - "Sorry, Granny..."
 - >Everyone joins hands and prays to the Almighty.
 - "And... fer our guest Anon. May he be welcome our house as he is in Yer kingdom."
 - >Amen.
 - >The food disappears in minutes.
 - "Alright Anon. Ready fer work?"
 - >Work?
 - A. Work
 - B. Sneak off upstairs
 - C. Help inside
 - >Yeah.
 - "Yah might wanna change yer clothes. It might git messy."
 - >Noted, Applebloom.
 - >But Anon doesn't wear farm clothes.
 - >You're as fabulous as Rarity.
 - >Just not Rarity yesterday.
 - >Be nice...
 - >Granny gets her cane and heads outside.
 - "Big Mac, there's a squeaky board out 'n' the gazebo. Would ya mind takin' a look at it later?"
 - "Nope."
 - >That can only end well...
 - >Applebloom follows her elders outside.
 - "C'mon Anon. Let's git started!"
 - >You turn to Applejack.
 - >Is her sister always this... enthusiastic?
 - "Yep. She likes tryin' new things. Findin' what she's good at."
 - >You were like that at her age.
 - >But clearly your talents lie in bed.
 - A. Applebloom
 - B. Applejack
 - C. Big McIntosh
 - D. Granny Smith
 - >You walk with Applejack and Applebloom to the field.
 - >So many apple trees.
 - >Do they grow anything else?
 - "Not really. Mah family's been growin' apples fer generations."
 - >You go back to economics class.
 - >Something about traditional economy comes to mind...
 - "Applebloom, you best stick with us."
 - >She whispers in your ear.
 - "She ain't tall enough yet ta do the pickin' by herself..."
 - "Hey!"
 - >She is pretty short...
 - "Hey!"
 - >Just messing with her.
 - >They lead you over to a part of the orchard that hasn't been picked.
 - >Which is most of it.
 - >You can see where the financial problems are coming from...
 - ""Alright Anon! It's just basic pickin' and liftin'. Follow mah lead!"
 - >Applebloom takes your hand and starts leading you away from Applejack.
 - "No ya don't! C'mere."
 - >Tug-of-war.
 - "Applebloom, just stick with us over here."
 - "Fine..."
 - >Little girls like older guys.
 - >Basic psychology.
 - >You're dragging bushels and whatever.
 - >Heavy lifting like a real man.
 - >Lift with your back, not your legs.
 - >Because, that's the right way to do it.
 - >Picking apples from the trees, throwing away the crappy ones.
 - >Applejack is lifting Applebloom into the trees to grab the apples.
 - >Teamwork.
 - >Smart.
 - A. Work alone
 - B. Sneak off
 - C. Climb a tree
 - >The little girl has the right idea.
 - >You start climbing a tree.
 - "Anon, what're ya doin'?"
 - >Working.
 - >What're you doing?
 - "Actually doin' work."
 - >Touche.
 - >You shimmy across to a branch with a whole mess of apples.
 - >This should be easy.
 - "Careful Anon!"
 - >Don't worry.
 - >You're a champ at trees.
 - >Or something like that.
 - >You get a few of the apples into the basket.
 - >One more to go.
 - >Reach for it.
 - "Anon..."
 - >Don't worry Applejack.
 - >You've got th-
 - *Crack*
 - >Uh-oh...
 - >The ground tastes... dirty.
 - >With a hint of lemon.
 - >Must be the apples.
 - You failed bio-chem
 - "Anon!"
 - >Applejack and Little Applejack come into view.
 - "Anon! Are ya alright?"
 - >Yeah.
 - >You shake your limbs out.
 - >Perfectly intact.
 - "That was a nasty fall. Are ya sure yer alright?"
 - >Definitely.
 - >Just a little sore.
 - >You get up and start picking up the fallen apples.
 - >At least the fall got the rest of the apples out of the tree.
 - >Somehow...
 - >You should really pay attention in physics more.
 - "Ah guess that's a new way ta pick apples!"
 - "Applebloom..."
 - >Let the girl have some fun.
 - >After all, high school is all she has left.
 - >Poor family.
 - >Literally.
 - >And it's over!
 - >You saw the sunrise, fell out of a tree and worked out every muscle in your body.
 - >You meet Granny Smith back at the farm house, each of you carrying a basket or whatever.
 - >Big Mac still isn't back from... wherever.
 - "Ya'll want some snacks? Ah made lemonade and a pie."
 - >What a productive old woman.
 - >This family is... nice.
 - >It's not fair that they have so little.
 - >But they don't seem to mind.
 - >Everyone except Applejack, that is...
 - >You all gather around the table, say grace and dig in.
 - A. Applejack
 - B. Applebloom
 - C. Granny Smith
 - >The food is great.
 - >You can see where Applejack gets her skills from.
 - "Thank ya, young feller."
 - >Apple pie is always best.
 - >Applejack blushes and takes a sip of her lemonade.
 - >Granny Smith gives you an eye.
 - >Hopefully not literally.
 - "So yer the boy our Applejack's been smitten with."
 - >That'd be you, yes.
 - "Ah thought you'd be taller..."
 - "Granny!"
 - "Ah'm jokin' with the boy..."
 - >The old woman rubs her wrinkles and looks at you seriously.
 - "How do you feel about her?"
 - "Granny!"
 - "Ah've a right ta know..."
 - >Applejack?
 - >Besides being your girlfriend.
 - >She's... a great friend.
 - >Honest to a fault.
 - >Really athletic.
 - >Fun loving.
 - >Pretty.
 - >Strongwilled.
 - >Applejack smiles at your remarks.
 - >Family oriented.
 - >Priority driven.
 - >And she's a definite dreamer.
 - >And... you'd be crushed to see her leave Canterlot U.
 - "Ah reckon Applejack's told you about the sitcheation here."
 - >She gives Applejack a look.
 - "Ah... Ah thought he should know..."
 - >Granny nods.
 - "It was a good decision..."
 - >She turns back to you.
 - "Ah tell ya... the farm is goin' through a heckuva lot. Drought, dry seasons, no rain..."
 - >You should tell her that's the same thing.
 - "It's tough puttin' Applejack n' her brother through college... and ah don't think we can do it no more."
 - >Applejack looks like she's about to cry.
 - >Applebloom comes over and hugs her.
 - >You don't know what to say either.
 - >It's a lot to take in.
 - >Really.
 - "Ah... Ah need a minute. Ah'll be right back."
 - >She runs outside.
 - A. Applejack
 - B. Granny
 - C. Bloom
 - >Applejack...
 - >...Probably needs some time alone.
 - >Applebloom sighs and goes into the living room.
 - >Can you say Courage the Cowardly Dog?
 - >Because it looks just like it.
 - "Ah ain't never seen that show b'fore."
 - >Not being a 90s kid.
 - >You feel for Applebloom.
 - "Uh, what?"
 - >Nothing, nothing.
 - >She grabs a remote and sits on the floor.
 - >It's an old black-and-white antennae t.v.
 - >They really are poor...
 - "Wanna watch somethin'?"
 - >Sure.
 - >A few minutes of static and bad programming later...
 - "Anon, you like mah sister right?"
 - >Of course you do.
 - "An'... she means a lot to ya, right?"
 - >Yeah.
 - >Where's the Lil' Applejack going with this?
 - "What're ya gonna do if she can't go ta school no more? What's gonna happen to you two?"
 - >You... hadn't really thought about that.
 - >If Applejack leaves CU...
 - >For good...
 - >You'll definitely be losing a part of yourself.
 - >Sure, she'd only be a few minutes away...
 - >But not having her there...
 - >Not seeing her face in bed next to you every morning...
 - >Not watching her make breakfast for you and your friends...
 - >Sure, she'd only be a few minutes away.
 - >But that's too long.
 - "Ah'm... Ah'm sorry, if that counts fer anythin'..."
 - >It doesn't.
 - >But it helps a little.
 - >The kitchen door slams shut.
 - >Applejack is back.
 - A. Watch T.V.
 - B. Applejack
 - C. Go upstairs
 - >You get up and go back into the kitchen.
 - >Granny Smith is putting away the dishes with Applejack.
 - "Granny, stop... Ah-Ah can take care of these."
 - >Old Apple shakes her head.
 - "Ah've c'n get these. Ya should be out spendin' some time with Anon."
 - >Granny nods to you.
 - "Take her out, will ya?"
 - >Uh, sure.
 - >You take Applejack's hand and head outside.
 - >The orchard doesn't give you a lot of places to hide and talk.
 - >Where's the secret garden?
 - "Anon, let's go in there."
 - >She points to a tree house a ways out.
 - >It looks pretty old...
 - "Don't worry. Big Mac built it fer me. It's sturdy as iron."
 - >You hope so.
 - >Those old floorboards creak as the two of you go inside.
 - >Out the window, you can see over most of the farm.
 - "Ain't it just pretty out there?"
 - >Yeah.
 - >You turn to face Applejack.
 - >Her eyes are red from the tears she's trying to hide from you.
 - >Applejack...
 - >You reach out to hug her.
 - "Anon... Ah ain't got a clue as to what's gonna happen..."
 - >Neither do you...
 - "Ah know. This whole thing is so... so..."
 - >The tears start back up again.
 - >It really isn't fair.
 - >Thanks Obama.
 - >Her tears are getting on your shirt.
 - >But you don't mind.
 - >Your tears are coming too.
 - >So much for manly, Hemmingway-based Anon.
 - A. Business
 - B. Bizness
 - C. Give her some space
 - >She could try commuting to school.
 - >Those dorms cost money.
 - >Or, she could try applying for scholarship...
 - "Ah ain't that smart, Anon. Mah grades ain't... they ain't so good..."
 - >You let her lean against you.
 - >You... don't really know what else to do.
 - >Applejack, of all people, deserves to stay at CU.
 - >She's been working hard, and her priorities are totally in order.
 - >She's not going to school for herself.
 - >She's doing it for family.
 - >She's doing it to carry on a legacy.
 - >And that...
 - >That deserves a chance to go on.
 - >She's... cried herself dry.
 - >And you've been stroking her back for a good few minutes now.
 - "Ah guess... *sniff* all there's left to do is... get back ta farmwork."
 - >For now.
 - >You walk her back to the farm house.
 - >It's getting dark out.
 - >Apparently time is weird here too.
 - >Must be the county or something.
 - >You carry Applejack into her bed.
 - "A-Anon?"
 - >Yeah, Applejack?
 - "T-thanks, Anon... for bein' here for me."
 - >You pull her in for a hug, making her let out another big sigh.
 - >Sounds... conflicted.
 - "G'night, Anon."
 - >Goodnight, Applejack.
 - End Day 34+
 - End Day 34+
 - >You try to ignore it.
 - >But it's hard to ignore it.
 - >Her room is right next to the guest room.
 - >You put your pillow over your ears.
 - >But, you can't ignore it.
 - >It's seeping through the walls.
 - >Applejack... crying.
 - >It's tearing you apart.
 - Met Applebloom
 - Met Granny Smith
 - Apple family rapport up!
 - The financial problems...