>The streets were clear as you advanced on the treebrary, which didn't help your tense mood.
>There's no telling what that little unicorn will do in revenge for your pre-emptive celebration.
>Though, considering all that she did before was tickle you for supposedly 'kidnapping' the smaller lasses...
>Maybe it won't be all that bad?
>You give a small jump as you hop up the small stairs in front of the door, and very slowly open it while peering inside.
>...
>Looks like there's no one there.
>Maybe she went out somewhere?
>Phew, that's a load off of your back.
>You walk into the house, closing the door behind you.
>Now, where to put these groceries.
>You start to walk to the kitchen, when a strange tingling sensation comes over what you're carrying.
>Ah, Twilight's helping you bring the groceries in.
"Thanks, Twi-"
>Wait...
>Ever so slowly, you turn your head to look at the unicorn in question, as the groceries you brought home slowly float into the kitchen, covered in her magical aura.
>The look on her face is...unnerving.
>You shift from foot to foot uneasily.
"Erm...lo there, lass. How was your rest?"
>She ignores your question, and turns to pull a book off of a shelf and use her magic to turn the pages.
>Okay, then...
"I'll just take my leave, then."
>Taking a few steps backwards, you begin to head for the exit
"See you in a while, la-"
>"Do you know how exhausting it is to teleport something to a location you've never been?"
>The sudden question catches you off guard, and you stop suddenly.
"I- no, not really."
>She continues to flip through the book.
>"Oh? Interesting..."
>A half of a minute passes with her not saying anything, nor responding to your presence.
>You manage to get to the door, whether she noticed or not, and try the knob.
>A dull lavender coats the apparatus, and you find yourself unable to budge it in any direction.
>You feel eyes on your back, and you slowly turn around to see Twilight sitting, a dissappointed look on her face.
>"Leaving so soon?"
>You say nothing, simply trying to move the doorknob.
>No dice.
>After a moment, a feeling of weightlessness overtakes you.
>You float up into the air, and are turned around to see a decidedly agitated look thrown in your direction, courtesy of the lavender unicorn who is so generously giving you the zero-gravity experience.
>"Do you have any idea how late I had to stay up to clean up your mess?"
"I dinnae-"
>"Very, very, very late."
>The residual effects of her sleep deprivation are now known to you as you focus on her face, the bags under her eyes becoming very apparrent.
>"Now, if you would, look at this through my perspective."
>She clears her throat, holding a hoof to her muzzle before beginning.
>"I go to Canterlot with Spike, have a nice but exhausting dinner catching up with my parents, take a long night train home, only to find that the individual that I so kindly let lodge in my house has hosted a party without my knowledge."
>She looks up at you and speaks with slight sarcasm.
>By 'slight', that would be like saying the ocean was 'kinda wet' or the desert was 'kinda hot'.
>"So, I had to spend a few hours sending everypony home while I would have liked nothing more than to just go to bed. But that's not the worst part."
>She shudders.
>"There were a lot of ponies who couldn't hold their drink. They...well, you know what happens when somepony can't hold their drink."
>The unicorn shivers and lowers her head, muttering to herself.
>You catch a few words, them being 'puke' and 'cleaning spells'.
>Yeesh.
>After she composes herself, she looks up to you.
>"So? What do you have to say for yourself?"
>You avert your eyes, Twilight's speech having a shaming effect on you.
"...I'm sorry, lass."
>She stares at you harshly for a few moments, before all trace of anger disappears from her face.
>"Apology accepted!"
>wat
>Her magical aura fades from around you, and you plop onto the floor.
>She turns around, and starts to trot back to the book she set on the floor.
>You're struck speechless by her actions, staring dumbfoundedly at her.
>You try to attempt speech, but all that comes out is confused gibberish.
>Composing yourself by shaking your head, you finally find your footing again and feel ready to attempt speech.
>"W-what? That's it? Yer not gonna do anythin' to me?"
>She simply replaces the book back into the slot she took it out of, before taking out another and looking in the inside cover.
>"Oh no, there's definitely going to be some repercussions. I hope you don't miss your cider too much."
>Your blood freezes as she makes the offhanded thread.
"Y-ye don't mean..?"
>A very small, sadistic smile appears on her face.
>"Yep. No alcohol for a week because of this little stunt you pulled."
>The room begins to spin, and you fall to your knees.
>There's only one thing you can do.
 
>Be Spike, Maremancer of the highest order.
>Heh.
>If only.
>You're helping Rarity hunt for gems again, as is usual as the case of Fridays.
>Maybe one of these days you won't have to spend time with her only by helping her with her work, and rather you'll be spending time in the park, lazing away the day with her.
>As you stand up from the pile of gems you found and begin to bring them to the small wagon the two of you brought with you, your frills poke up at the very distant, yet somewhat familiar sound.
>"...Nooooooooooooooo!!!!...."
>Your lady turns her head back to the town, a concerned expression darkening her features as she holds a hoof to her mouth in curiosity.
>"Just what is that dreadful screaming coming from Ponyville?"
>You recognize what made the sound, and mock taking off a hat and holding it to your chest.
"The sound of pure, unfiltered despair of a stallion."
>You wonder just what Twilight has done to Anon as you and Rarity get back to work.
>Eh, he'll be fine.
>Probably.
 
>Be Anon, very depressed monk of the Stonefist order.
>How could Twilight be that cruel?
>Dwarves exist off of Ale and stone, taking one out of the equation messes with the natural order!
>...okay, not really, but it's still going to be really painful this week.
>At least she's not locking you in a room and letting you go to Sweet Apple Acres.
>After recovering from the second greatest sadness you've ever experienced, you told her that you had to meet Applejack at her farm for work.
>She gladly gave you the directions, and said that she would work out the rent that you would have to pay while you were out.
>So, here you are, on the dirt path on the way to SAA.
>Speaking of, you can see the gate appearing on the horizon.
>Breaking into a half-jog, half-run, you reach the gate in no time, slowing down only slightly to hop over the chest high object.
>As you clear the slight hill, you gaze over the splendor of the orchard, a presence makes itself known to your right.
>Turning, you see an absolutely massive pony, who's height rivals the horses of your world.
>He looks you over with an appraising yet calm stare.
>Eventually, he speaks up in an incredibly deep baritone.
>"You Anon?"
>Nodding calmly, you begin to speak.
"I'm here fer the offer of work extended by Applejack. Would ye know where she is at the moment?"
>He nods, turning away and beginning a slow trot away from you, but in a specific direction.
>There's an unspoken suggestion to follow him, as he will probably lead you to Applejack.
>Shouldn't take that long, right?
>No reason to not talk to the pony next to you to pass the time.
>Though he doesn't appear to speak much, he'll probably respond to you.
>Clearing your throat, you see his ears twitch in your direction.
"So, are ye a farmhand here, too?"
>He slowly shakes his head.
>"Nope. Applejack's mah sister."
>Annnnd he just ends it off on that.
>No continuation of the conversation, just that.
>Welp.
>A minute or so passes before the silence is broken again, this time by him.
>"Ah'd like to thank ya fer savin' both of mah sisters."
>What does he mean by...
>Oh yeah, the Timberwolf.
>That was more of a fight for your life, but you don't mind having some extra credit thrown your way.
>But what does he mean by 'both of his sisters'?
>Wait, wasn't that wee lass related to Applejack?
>...
>Oh, yeah.
>So you did save both of his sisters, you suppose.
"Ah, it was nothin'. Monks are sworn to protect others. That came tae me as naturally as breathing would tae you."
>He takes a moment before he nods.
>"Ah can see why Applejack wanted ya on the farm. It's not too often ya run into someone of such high character like you."
>Adjusting the yoke around his neck, he continues a moment later.
>"That, an' we Apples always help out those who've helped us."
>The conversation fades into silence once more as the two of you walk through the orchard.
>Eventually, a dull thump makes it's audible presence known, growing steadily louder as you walk towards the source.
>The two of you walk out into the next row of trees, and turn to the left slightly as you spot the orange pony...kicking the trees?
>As the kick she delivered impacts the tree she was in front of, you see the apples on the tree neatly fall down into the baskets below.
>Huh.
>Efficient.
>Applejack surveys her work, smiling as she does so, but her gaze eventually reaches you and her brother.
>Her smile only widens, and she trots out from behind the tree to head towards the two of you.
>She extends a hoof to you, which you grasp and shake once.
>"Glad ya could make it out here so fast, 'Non."
"Likewise."
>She turns her gaze to look up to her brother.
>"Ah see ya've met mah brother, Big Macintosh."
>You do a half-nod, before stopping.
"Well...yes, lass. He refrained from mentionin' his name, though."
>Her smile fades, and she points an accusatory glare at 'Big Macintosh'.
>"Consarnit, Big Mac, didn' ah tell ya it was rude ta' not introduce yerself by sayin' yer name?"
>He scuffs a hoof along the ground ashamedly, hanging his head slightly.
>Applejack's ire fades quickly, and she sighs.
>"Look, ah know it's hard for ya to talk ta ponies like the rest of us, but ya gotta try, alright?"
>He nods sadly, and she sighs once again.
>"Alright, now git outta here, Ah gotta speak ta Anon 'bout what he's gotta do on the farm."
>He turns around and walks off in the direction you came from, leaving you alone with the orange earth pony.
>She looks at you, and shifts her stance slightly.
>"What do ya know 'bout apple buckin'?"
>You cough into your hand roughly.
"E-excuse me?"
>"Ya know, apple buckin'. Where ya hit the trees with yer hind legs, knockin' the apples into the baskets?"
>You sigh in relief.
>Thank Kols, you thought she meant...
>Nevermind.
"I dinnae suppose I do, lass. Do ye wanna show me how it works?"
>She nods happily, before leaning her head down to slide a bucket on her back.
>"First, ah'd appreciate you helpin' me get these buckets into the cart over yonder."
>She trots off, careful not to spill any apples as she heads to a nearby cart.
>Huh.
>Strange how you didn't see that before.
>Must have been hidden by a few trees.
>Regardless, you crouch down and grasp the handles of the bucket before standing up, making sure to lift with your knees, not your back.
>Would have been a real shame to come out here only to pull a muscle on a basket of apples.
>Speaking of the basket...
>It's actually pretty heavy, but not anything cripplingly weighty.
>Good.
>A few trips back and forth for the both of you, and the buckets are empty while the cart is half-full.
>It also appears that Applejack had hit up a few trees before, which is why there were already apples in it.
>The cart itself is about 4 ponies long and 3 ponies wide, so it will take about four or so more trees, depending if they all have comparable amounts of apples in them.
>She brings a few of the empty buckets along with her, placing it around a tree full of apples, and also directs you where to place the ones you brought along with you.
>Eventually, they're all in place, and she takes a stance in front of the tree.
>"Now, apple buckin' is a long and valued apple family tradition, ever since our great-great-great-"
>She continues for a while, making you question just how many generations there were in her family.
>"-great-great grandparents first settled in Ponyville. Now, what you do is stand in front of the tree, widen yer stance-"
>She does the two things, and you see her muscles tense in preperation.
>"-spin 'round, and-"
>Whirling on her front hooves, she cocks back her rear legs and launches a kick towards the tree, but stops at the last moment and rests herself on the tree.
>"-Well, it's kinda obvious what happens next."
>The orange Apple spins around once more, and lands to face you once more.
>"So, do ya wanna try it out?"
>You raise a hand to your chin, stroking your beard slightly.
>Doing this for a few moments, you compose your thoughts before you speak.
"Well, as much as I'd like tae...there's a slight problem."
>"What's that?"
"I'm not a pony."
>You approach the tree, and lay a hand on it.
"While I'm certainly strong, I doubt that the same technique that works for you will work for me. I mean, I don't think I can match near the force of that kick."
>Applejack holds a hoof to her muzzle in thought, slowly nodding in agreement.
>"Ah see yer point..."
>She clicks her tongue a few times.
>"Do ya wanna try anwyay? Ya might have some luck with that fancy 'pressure point' thing ya did to me and Rainbow a few days ago."
>After you nod, you shake your head.
"I'll give it a try, but I don't think that the tree has any Ki points. It's not exactly living, after all."
>Closing your eyes, you take a few moments to clear your mind and have a few cleansing breaths.
>Opening your eyes, you draw back for an open palm strike, and slam it into the center of the tree.
>A single apple falls down.
>"*Snrk*"
>Ignoring the snickering of the orange pony behind you, you focus on the image before you.
>Much to your shock, there is -actually- a Ki flow going throughout the tree.
>Is there so much magic in this world that even the -trees- have flow?
>Keeping your palm pressed into the tree, you close your eyes and focus on the small 'pings' of energy in the tree.
>"Anon? Ya alright?"
"Yes. Give me a moment, lass."
>Interestingly enough, the energy pings are not appearing in the same place.
>It seems random at best, and it seems that the marking strike you made just happened to hit one of them, causing an apple to fall.
>However, the first strike appeared to have sort of a connection to the rest of the pings.
>So that means...
>Opening your eyes, you draw your palm off the tree-
>And unleash a Flurry of Blows into the center point.
>The fast strikes you deliver into it make it so that while all of the apples don't fall at once like Applejack's, but they fall down in a very rapid succession.
>Eventually, your strikes cease to bear fruit (heh).
>You stop your striking, drawing back into your stance, letting off a final breath.
>Applejack, who you had forgotten was there in your striking, looks over the buckets of apples and the tree.
>Raising a hoof to her muzzle in thought, she nods.
>"Well, ya did get all th'apples into the buckets, so ah can't complain..."
>Wait for it...
>"...but.."
>She turns to you, looking at your hands.
>"Ah can't help but feel that yer hurtin' yerself by doin' that."
>Lifting up your hand, you inspect it to see that it's only slightly red, with some brownish scuff marks from the bark.
>And your fists feel fine, besides.
"Nay, lass. I could, quite literally, do this all day."
>Her eyebrow attempts to escape her face.
>"Oh, really, now?"
>You sense the doubt in her tone, and you turn to face her.
"Yep. All day. Done it before."
>Her eyebrow is beginning to breach the stratosphere.
>"Ah don't mean nothin' bad, but ah'm not quite convinced that anypony, even you, could do -that- all day."
>A smug smile creeps onto your face.
"Are ya sure, lass? Maybe as much as tae make a little wager?"
>She purses her lips.
>"A bet, huh? Go on, Ah'm listenin'."
>You lean back against the tree, telling her of the wager.
"Well, ye go and find me a nice strong tree, or somethin' like that for me tae hit for quite a while, say..."
>You look up at the sky, marking the position of the sun.
>Just barely headed to the west, which means that you've got quite a bit of time until sundown.
>Maybe...six or seven hours worth.
>Plenty of time.
"...'til sundown. If ye don't want tae waste time, I suppose I could spend the time hittin' the trees for ye...but ye'd have to move pretty fast tae keep up with me."
>She purses her lips, furrowing her brow in thought.
>"An' jus' do ya get from this? What do -Ah- get if you can't hold up yer end of the bargain?"
>Pressing off of the tree, you walk up to her, stopping a foot or so away the earth pony.
"Me? A barrel of cider, that's it. Ye don't tell anyone about it, only me and ye know about it. As fer what ye get, I work half a week, no pay."
>The stakes are pretty damn high for you, but you wouldn't be raising them to that level if you couldn't win.
>Applejack nods, lowering her eyes in thought.
>A few moments pass, whereupon she looks up to meet your gaze.
>"Ya've got yourself a bet, mister Anon."
>She raises a hoof for you to shake on it, and you accept it.
>After releasing it, you ask her what she wants you to do.
>Smiling, she asks you to follow her, which you oblige.
>You feel slightly bad for sneaking a bit of hard cider under Twilight's nose...
>Aw, who are you kiddin'?
>There isn't any way you weren't going to last the week without -some- alcohol.
>Besides, what kind of monster disallows a dwarf to drink?
>Preposterous!
>Applejack eventually leads you to a patch of land where it looks like the trees have begun to decay, mostly because of the removed branches.
>As you walk, she begins to explain what is happening here.
>"As ya can see, the trees here've been clipped of all'a their branches. This field's s'posed ta be cleared for a new type of apple trees comin' in all th'way from Germaneigh from our cousins livin' over there. Ah was gonna get Big Mac to help me clear these here oaks out for the new'uns, but since ya've taken that bet with me, this is a perfect place for ya to prove to me if'n ya can or can't. That way ya still help us out while not havin' to have some help come in t'run the carts back n' forth."
>She waves at the dying trees.
>"These've still got some kick left in 'em, so they're gonna be mighty hard to knock down, though Ah'm sure that a dwarf like yew will have no trouble with them."
>Taking a few steps towards the nearest oak, you look back to her with a small smile on your face.
"Is that a hint of over-confidence I hear in ye voice?"
>"Not over-confidence, jus' doubt."
>She sits down on her haunches a few feet away from you.
>"Well, Ah'll just sit here and watch, make sure you win or lose, fair n' square."
>You turn to face the tree as she says one more thing.
>"Whenever yer ready, just start on that there tree."
>Sliding into your stance, you take a few moments to energize yourself with the ambient energies, before striking the tree in front of you rapidly, slowly feeling it's strength begin to wane under your withering assault.
>Your mind checks out as you begin to lay into the tree, your body taking over the actions.
>Beginning to delve into your thoughts, you don't notice the music slowly filling the enviroment.
>'I wonder how big the size of the cask that Applejack's going to get for me is...'
 
>Be awesomest pony in Equestria, Rainbow Danger Dash!
>Currently, you're flying over Sweet Apple Acres, thinking of what stunts you should work on today, and if you should change your middle name to 'Daring', when a strange sound from the field filled with trees without branches draws your attention.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVBpAikvnHk
>Is that...music?
>As you fly down towards the ground, you notice two ponies there.
>Well, one pony and one dwarf.
>With your awesome eyesight, you saw that the pony was Applejack...and it's kinda obvious who the dwarf was.
>Y'know, the only one in existence.
>Wonder what they're doing out here...
>Only one way to find out!
>Going into a steep dive, you rocket down towards the ground next to AJ, pulling up at the last moment, flaring your wings, causing the dead leaves on the ground to whip up into the air.
>Applejack snorts in surprise and turns to meet you, but Anon doesn't even notice your arrival.
>In fact, he appears to be totally decimating the dying tree in front of him with punch after punch after punch.
>A look of confusion appears on your face, and you turn to look at Applejack.
"Hey, AJ. Why's Anon beating that tree like it stole his Wonderbolts tickets?"
>Your friend turns to look at Anon, a self-assured smile resting on her face.
>"Ah, he's helpin' me clear out these trees, while also tryin' ta prove me wrong?"
"What do ya mean by that?"
>"Ah, the stallion's helpin' me out with the work on the farm, but he convinced me to take a bet up with him."
>You take a few moments to watch as the tree snaps in half, and he kicks the stump out of the ground before moving on to another one.
"What'd ya bet on?"
>She gestures at him with a hoof.
>"Ya see how fast he's goin'? He's s'posed to keep up that pace 'til the sun sets."
>Looking at him with a tone of disbelief, you shake your head.
"There's no way! He's gonna wear himself out at this pace!"
>Your apple-inclined friend smirks confidently.
>"Exactly."
>An hour passes, and he's still going.
>Pretty impressive, but considering how long the other members of the apple family can last, it's nothing too worrying for Applejack.
>Another hour passes, no sign of him stopping.
>Applejack is starting to tap her hooves worriedly, he's starting to exceed earth pony stamina entirely.
>Yet another hour passes, and Applejack has started to panic, swearing under her breath and pacing back and forth.
>Two hours pass, and both you and Applejack are sitting there with your jaws wide open as the dwarf has STILL.
>NOT.
>STOPPED.
>Pinkie Pie has shown up by now, and has not greeted either of you, contenting herself with sitting with the two of you and copying your expressions.
>The final hour dawns upon Applejack, and she has since recovered from her shock, simply settling for being impressed beyond all belief.
>She finally finds her voice, swallowing a lump of air.
>"T-that's enough, sugarcube."
>The dwarf (whom you highly suspect is inequine by now) pauses mid swing, panting heavily as he turns to look at Applejack.
>A tired smile appears on his face.
>"Looks like *huff* I win, lass."
>She smiles, but it twitches as it goes onto her face.
>"That ya have, sugarcube. Fair'n square."
>He continues to pant, seeming to consider something for a moment.
>"Ye know what? I feel a little bad from winnin'. Tell ye *huff* what, lass- I'll take that cask o' cider, but fer two days *huff*, I'll work half pay. That sound good to ye?"
>The farmer blinks in shock, stammering out a reply.
>"N-n-no, it's fine, after all, ya-"
>"I -insist-."
>She looks away, grumbling to herself, before meeting him with a fierce glare.
>"Fine. But yer goin' to have dinner with my family tonight."
>The weary dwarf smiles tiredly, nodding once.
>"Alright, lass. It's a deal."
>Your presence having been forgotten, you decide to make it known again while getting a jab in at your rival.
"Wow, Applejack. When it comes to stallions, you really move fast!"
>Her flustered expression and panicked sputtering was well worth whatever she could cook up with later.
>"A-ah do not! Ah'll have you know that Ah'm the perfect picture of-"
"Yeah, yeah. You really need to learn how to take a joke, AJ."
>She huffs and begins to march off towards her house.
>"Ah know somepony that just got themselves un-invited from dinner tonight."
>The slight scent of apples comes in on the wind, promising fritters and more, causing you to shiver in delight.
>You shake yourself out of it as you watch the two of them walk off into the distance.
>Taking off after them, you desperately plead with Applejack.
"Oh, come on, I didn't mean it! Pleasepleasepleaseplease let me come to dinner with you!"