Southern Anon in Equestria 4 - Similarly Different

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjC9jAkksdc

>Again, like with Fluttershy the night before, you and Applejack begin to converse.

>She's asking all kinds of questions about who you are, where you're from, and the like

>And you're answering to the best of your mountain raised abilities.

>You should really write this shit down if everbody is just gonna keep asking the same things.

>Everypony

>What?

>Every. Pony.

>...Shut up, brain.

>"So ya say ya came from a world without magic?"

Applejack's words snap you back to the current conversation

"Yes ma'am. Just don't exist where ah'm from."

 

>"Certainly explains how ya was able to resist bein' pulled after ah lassoed ya. Livin' thata way must've made ya as strong as or stronger than a typical earth pony. But how do ya'll deal with things like monsters?"

"Monsters? Ah'd reckon bout the same as we do magic."

>"Ah thought ya said ya don't have magic in your world?"

"Exactly."

>Applejack looks at you quizically taking a moment to wrap her head around what you just said.

>a short moment later, eyes open wide to the sudden realization

>"Ya'll don't have any monsters ya hafta defend yerselves from?"

"No ma'am.  Not unless ya count other humans, anyways."

>That statement seems to surprise her

>"So ya'll see yerselves as a bunch o' monsters?"

"On a case by case basis, ah'd have to say no. But given how many attrocities have befallen humans because o' -other- humans, ah'd have to say, as a whole? Yes ma'am, ah do."

>"Ya can't really mean that, can ya?"

 

"Eeyup."

>Applejack visibly shudders

>"Please don't do that, ya sound a might like mah older brother."

"Do what? Say 'eey-'"

>she cuts you off quickly.

>"Yeah, that.  He don't talk much. Not unless ya can get 'im goin', then ya can't keep 'im quiet. Ah just still ain't used ta someone who ain't apple family havin' the same accent is all."

"Ah can quite understand that. Ah'm still gettin' used to talkin' ponies."

>"Ponies can't talk where you're from?"

"Ponies can't rightly do a lot of things ya'll do where ah'm from.

>"Like what, exactly?"

>Where the fuck do you start with this question?

"Well, a'right. Ah ain't too sure where to start, so I'll just start. Sound good?"

>She nods, thinking she's ready for whatever you might say.

>Oh how wrong she is.

>You take in as deep a breath as you can muster, and her stoic expression falls.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rfXU8TwA6AM

"Firstly, your kind can't talk where ah'm from. Not that they'd be smart enough to say much anyways, besides stating a need such as hunger or thirst."

>She recoils slightly, and looks at you with disbelief.

>Almost like you just insulted her mother and she doesn't know a good comeback.

"Ya'lls faces ain't quite as elongated and are by FAR more expressive. They're more like mah own, except with bigger eyes than ah've seen."

>Her head droops slightly, her mouth agape and eyes widening with further shock

"They don't tend to wear hats or other clothes, like you are right now, and they can't grab things with their hooves."

>You move up to her, and in one swift motion, flip her hat off of her head, catching it by the crown

>Her jaw looks like it's trying to dislodge itself from your verbal assault and taking of her hat

>You start circling around her slowly, placing her hat on your own head, and examining to see if you missed something.

>You find it

"And finally, they don't tend to have tattoos on their rumps. Matchings ones on each flank, at that."

 

>That did it

>Her eyes glaze over for moment, and she starts mumbling to herself

>Information overload.

>You'd had it last night, when you first arrived here.

>Not nearly this bad, but still.

>It takes her a moment to regain her composure.

>she quickly shakes her head to and fro, and then she's back to herself again

>"What was that last thin' ya'll said?"

"You have a tattoo or something on your butt. Three apples. It seems kinda... punny. Why do have that?"

>"That ain't no tattoo, Anon, whatever those are. That's what we ponies call a 'Cutie Mark'.

>Well that perked up one of your eyebrows

"What tha hell is a cutie mark?"

>"Ya don't know what a cutie mark is?"

"Prolly wouldn't have asked if ah did, now would ah?

>"Gimme back mah stetson, and ah'll tell ya.

 

>You let out a heavy sigh

"Fiiiiinnee."

>You take the stetson off your head by gripping the crown, and place directly on hers

"Heh, looks better on me, though."

>"Matter o' opinion, haystack."

"So, back to the matter at hand. What's a cutie mark?"

>"Well, a cutie mark is a representation o' what makes a pony special. Be it a special talent, or an ability they have, or just what they're meant to do. Take mine fer example. Whatcha think mah mark represents?"

>You take a look again, just to see if there's anything special about the apple marks

"Seems kinda generic at first glance to me, but it's something ah ain't used to, so please take no offense. Fergive tha pun, but ah'd have to guess that yer a Applejack-o'-all-trades."

>Dead-pan stare, swingandamiss

>She just shakes her head slowly, rolling her eyes

>"Terrible puns aside, yer actually on the money. Ah also run and work on mah farm with mah brother, younger sister, and mah granny. We've got the biggest apple orchard, with the best apples in all o' Equestria, Sweet Apple Acres."

 

"So ya'll own a whole farm and orchard? Sounds like a lot o' work."

>She sighs, and takes on a sort of faraway gaze

>"Yeah, it can be. 'Specially with Big Mac being a touch clumsy. A couple seasons ago, he got hisself hurt tryin' ta buck the zap apple trees early. Then ah bout worked mahself ta bare tryin' ta make up the slack."

"Didn't ya ask any o' yer friends to help with it? I don't mean ta pry, but surely they'd have done it in a heartbeat if they was worth keepin'."

>She looks down and starts circling the dirt with her front hoof

>"Yeah, I'd o' prolly done that, but ah stubborned up and told mah brother I was gonna do it all mahself. And I still tried doin' things to help ever'pony else. Near the end o' the whole ordeal, I even agreed to help mah friend Pinkie run Sugar Cube Corner while the cakes was outta town. It was pretty terrible."

"How terrible?"

>"...Almost ever'p0ny in town was sick in the hospital, Pinkie included."

"Ouch."

>"Ya don't know the half o' it. I finally broke down and asked mah friends to help, and pinkie swore ah'd never be that bull-headed bout gettin' help if ah need it again."

 

"Did you just say 'Pinkie Promise'?"

>"Eeyup."

"Huh.  Ain't heard that term since ah was little."

>"Ya'll know what a pinkie promise is?  Even with ya'll bein' from somewhere that ain't Equestria?"

"Ah reckon so."

>"Yer not jus' joshin' me, are ya?"

"Cross mah heart n' hope to die, stick a needle in mah eye."

>And there goes that jaw again

>She's just staring at you, dumbfounded

>Seriously, these ponies are fucking strange

"What? Did ah say somethin' wrong?"

>She blinks a couple times, shakes her head, and finally regains her composure

>"That's, uhh... that ain't -quite- how it goes here. You're purty close, fer sure, but the way we say it don't sound nearly as... dire."

"Really? How's it go here, then?"

>"Cross mah heart n' hope to fly, stick a cupcake in mah eye."

"...Yer right. Mine DOES sound more dire. But to the mind of a young'n, a promise is somethin' sacred. It's supposed to tell ya that messin' it up can damage your reputation."

>"Guess ah can't argue that. Your world must be purty dark fer that to be the norm though."

"You don't know the half it."

>"Ah think Ah'd like to keep it that way."

 

>You and Applejack have done nothing but talk this whole afternoon.

>Even after the earlier misunderstanding and scuffle, the two of you have become fast friends

>You've been so engrossed in each other's stories, fluttershy takes the both of you by surprise when she finally returns home

>FS: "Oh, Anon! You look like an absolute mess! What happened out here?"

"Oh, 'taint nothin' to worry about, Miss Fluttershy. Me and Applejack here just had a minor scrap is all."

>AJ: "Yeah, sorry 'bout that, Fluttershy. Ah meant well, though. I came here ta check up on him and yer other animals fer ya, and found 'im with an empty sack, knelt down infront o' one yer chickens. Ah thought the worst and tried to lasso him, but he's a fighter, this one. Managed to use mah own force against me, and got loose."

>FS: "Oh my! Are you going to be alright, Anon? You didn't hurt yourself, did you?"

>She's looking you over like you'd expect your own mother to.

>You reach down and start tussling her mane, trying to calm her

>"Nah, ah'm fine, just a touch dirty again. 'Sides, I almost had her overpowered. Would have, too, if she hadn't dropped the rope when she started losin' ground. It was jus' a misunderstandin', like ah keep sayin'. No harm done."

 

>Fluttershy seems relieved that you're okay

>Applejack just noticed the moon rising and stars coming out.

>AJ: "Welp, its gettin' a hair late fer a visit. Ah'll jus' head back to the farm. Oh, 'fore ah forget.  Anon?"

"Yeah, Applejack?  Whatcha need?"

>AJ: "If ya need some bits, we could always use an extra pair o' hooves around the orchard. Strappin' fella like ya'll out there oughta cut our applebuckin' time in half or less.

"Ah'd be happy to help ya'll out on the farm, Applejack. It'll have to wait till ah'm 100% back on mah feet though, but that ought not take THAT long."

>AJ: "Well, that's settled then. It was nice seein' ya, Fluttershy. And nice to meet ya as well, Anon."

>She turns off and heads her way back to Sweet Apple Acres.

>You and Fluttershy head inside, eat a nice salad, talk about how the days events

>She apparently wants you to meet the rest of her friends tomorrow

>Specifically though, she thinks her friend Twilight may be able to help in getting you home, if you even can and decide to not stay.

>You both decide it would probably be best if you got an early start in the morning

>You both say your good nights, and turn in for the evening.