Title:           The Scent of Apples Ch1
Author:          kvetha
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/7er4uR98
First Edit:      Sunday 30th of December 2012 03:40:14 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Sunday 30th of December 2012 03:40:14 PM CDT

>You are Anon.
>As far as many were concerned, you'd had the ideal life, up until now.
>Now, things are different and difficult.
>But we'll come back to that.
>You had been tasked with retrieving valuable maps from an enemy stronghold, and then delivering them to your king.
>Things had been simple enough.
>You had gotten the maps and made a careful, yet hasty, retreat.
>That’s when things went wrong.
>The enemy had been waiting for you.
>The maps you had stolen weren't even real.
>That's when the chase had begun.
>It had been a close thing.
>You'd managed to escape the majority of their forces, but finally, they struck you down with arrows. >As you lay dying, you had prayed to the goddess of mercy, and in this, your hour of need, she had responded.
>She had given you a second chance.
>And here you were.
>Transported out of your world, to a place completely foreign.
>Colorful, but new and different.
>You open your eyes slowly, and carefully.
>The first day you were here you had learned of the ferocious beasts that roamed the wilds of the forest.
>So far, you had only come across the strange canine wood creatures.
>They were easy enough to avoid, as long as you stayed off the ground and continuously kept an ear open to hear for their distinctive howl.
>But there were always eyes that watched you in the dark, and that made you nervous.
>Every night, you slept on a tree branch, or an abandoned animal burrow.
>But today, hopefully, that would all change.
>Last night, in the distance, you had seen what appeared to be a hot-air balloon.
>That meant that somewhere in that direction there was some sort of civilization.
>Packing up the few tools you had made out of wood, you carefully make you way in the direction of where the balloon had been.
>Ahead, the trees thin out, and you can make out what looks like a building of some kind.
>Some kind of creatures are walking around, tending to what appears to be apple trees.
>Deciding on the spot that you would rather be safe and scope out the situation, you perch in a tree a few yards from the edge of the forest.
>From what you can see, the inhabitants of the area appear to be equines of some sort, similar to the horses you had ridden in your own world.
>You feel, however that they are more intelligent, as they go about their day, kicking apples out of trees, tilling the land, and planting seeds.
>“(Hey Mister, whatcha doin up there?)” a voice from below says suddenly.
>It was one of the equines.
>You can't understand what she's saying.
>Its a foreign tongue that sounds tantalizingly familiar, but you can't make it out.
“Hello, small creature. I mean you no harm.” you say, holding your hands up to show you have no weapons.
>She cocks her head to the side, obviously not understanding your words.
>You sigh, and very slowly and carefully, climb down the tree.
>She watches, not suspiciously, but curiously.
>“(What kind of critter are ya, mister?)” she asks, smiling.
>You shake your head, trying to intimate that you don't know what she's saying.
“I'm sorry, young one. I do not understand your tongue.”
>“(Sorry mister, but ah don't understand what yer sayin'.)”
>She points to the building behind her, then beckons to you.
>“(Maybe mah sister Applejack can help ya! Oh, by the way, ah'm Applebloom!)”
>She points to herself, then repeats the strange word.
>“(Applebloom!)”
>You nod your head in understanding.
“You're name is Apehboom.” you say slowly, pointing at her.
>She nods excitedly, then points at you questioningly.
>“(What's your name?)”
>You don’t understand the words, but their meaning is obvious.
>Pointing at her, you say, “Apehboom.”
>Then you point to yourself. “Anonymous.”
>She tries to pronounce it.
>“Anonyamoose... Anymouse...”
>She scratches her head, confused.
“Anon.” you say simply.
>“Anon!” Applebloom says happily. “Anon, (why don't you come back to the barn with me! You can meet mah sister!)”
>She starts trotting away, and you decide to follow.
>Perhaps they could offer you a place to stay for the night, and some food.
    >You follow Apehboom to the farm, constantly looking for danger.
    >The world is different that that you are used to, and seems relatively safe, bar the forest.
    >But old habits die hard.
    >You scan the area, but are only able to see fruit tree.
    >Fruit trees as far as the eye can see.
    >This must be some kind of farm.
    >As the two of you approach the barn, you see another of the equine creatures.
    >Its larger than Apehboom, and red in color, as opposed to her yellow.
    >It sees you and the young one, and approaches.
    >As it does so, you raise your hands to show you hold no weapons.
    >Though you know it can't understand you, you decide to speak up.
    “Hello. I mean you no harm.” You say this in slow, reassuring tones.
    >The equine looks at you, then says a short simple phrase.
    >“(Eeyup.)”
    >Apehboom points at the bigger equine.
     
    >“(Thats Big Macintosh. He's my older brother!)”
    >You nod, still not understanding.
    >Pointing to yourself, you say,
    “Anon.” Then you point to him expectantly.
    >Apehboom says, “(Big Macintosh,)” very slowly.
    >You repeat after her.
    “Beeg Maketoch.”
    >“Anon, (that's great! You're learning our names really well!)”
    >You hear the sounds of footsteps approaching, and spin on your heels to face the newcomer.
    >“(Whoa there. Applebloom, what in the name of Celestia is that?)” the newcomer says.
    >It is obviously female, like the young one, and opposed to the larger one.
    >She has long blonde hair, drawn in a simple ponytail, and wears what appears to be a hat of some kind.
    >However, she doesn't appear very happy.
    >In fact, she looks openly hostile.
    >“(Where in the hay did ya find this weird clothed monkey?)” the blonde one says again, directing her words at Apehboom.
     
    >The two of them exchange a flurry of words for a few minutes as you watch, uncomprehending.
    >Then the blonde one approaches you.
    >She doesn't look as hostile anymore, but still suspicious.
    >She points to you, and says, “Anon, (am ah right?)”
    >You recognize your name, and realize she must be asking if the young one was correct in telling her your name.
    >You nod, mimicking her.
    “I am Anon.”
    >She looks you up and down for a moment, then points to herself.
    >“(Ahm Applejack.)”
    >You smile, glad at least that her suspicion hasn't stopped her manners.
    “Apehjaqc,” you say slowly, sounding it out.
    >Apehjaqc smiles, looking much more friendly now.
    >(“Well, if he can talk, ah guess he ain't some wild beast.)”
    > Apehboom jumps up and down excitedly.
    >“(Can he stay with us? At least until he's ready to leave?)” she says to Apehjaqc.
    >She nods.
     
    >“(Ah wouldn't feel right leaving some bedraggled soul out in the wild. Just look at the state he's in. Ah bet he could use a hot bath and some good ol' country chow to put the pep back in his step.)”
    >You are completely lost as they converse, but it doesn't look as if either of them mean you any harm. >The two start walking back toward the barn, and motion for you to follow them.
    >Once inside the barn, you see many familiar things.
    >Bales of hay, tools, and barrels.
    >You were right in thinking this to be a farming establishment.
    >“Anon, (ya'll can sleep here, at least for tonight. We'll find ya something more comfortable tomorrow.)”
    >She points to a soft pile of hay, the puts both of her hooves next to her head with her eyes closed.
    >Ah, you understand.
    >They want you to sleep here.
    >You clasp your hands together, in thanks, and smile warmly.
    >Both of the girls smile in return.
    >Apehjaqc points to you, then to the hay, then mimes eating something.
    >“(We'll bring ya out some food here in a bit. Ya'll just relax and rest here.)”
     
    >You nod, understanding the meaning behind her words.
    >Apehboom follows her out, and you sit down on the pile of hay.
    >Ahhh...
    >This is the most comfort you've felt in days.
    >Even before coming here, comfort was something you didn't have much of, and what little you did have was few and far in between.
    >Unable to help yourself, you lay down in the hay, and slowly drift off to sleep.
    >A few hours later, you wake up.
    >Its dark now, and you can barely see.
    >For a moment, a spike of fear shoots through your body when you can't remember how you got here. >But then you calm as a scent wafts vaguely through the air.
    >Its apples.
    >The scent brings back the memory of today’s events, and your heartbeat slows to a more even pace. >Looking around, you see a plate on the ground with some sort of food on it.
    >The smell of apples is coming from the plate, so you pick it up, and inspect the food.
    >It looks like some sort of fried apple, and smells safe enough, so you take a bite.
     
    >!!!
    >Its delicious!
    >You finish the rest, taking care to chew slowly, and savor the amazing flavor.
    >After looking around to see if there was anymore, you notice a piece of paper on the ground.
    >Its a drawing.
    >One of them, you recognize as yourself.
    >The other is an apple.
    >The meaning is pretty obvious.
    >Smiling to yourself, you lay back down, stomach now happily digesting your meal.
    >This place might not be so bad.
    >With the scent of apples still permeating the air, you fall back into a restful, peaceful sleep.