>"Now, makin' a pie's real simple. Since we got the dough all made, all ya gotta do is press the dough so it sticks to the pan just right..."
>Applejack spoke as she gave an example of how to press the pie into the pan, making sure the edges stuck out just a tad.
>"Then, after that, you're ready to add the apple filling, and into the oven it goes!"
"Sounds easy enough," you say, grabbing a piece of dough and pressing it into a small pan.
>As you get the dough set in, Applejack puts the apple filling inside her own crust, then lays down another sheet of dough, this time on top of the pie.
>"These ain't gonna be no fancy pies, but we still want 'em to look good, so we're gonna place a sheet a' dough on top of the pie and poke a few holes in the top for the air to escape from."
>It's amazing how quick she is with the process as she pokes holes in the top crust with a fork, but you figure she's done this millions of times before.
>You're still on the dough pressing part.
>"Alrighty, now all we gotta do is set this thing in the oven an' let it bake."
>She tosses the pie into the oven and grabs a timer, setting the clock for about forty minutes.
>You're STILL on the crust.
>Applejack eyes your slow progress, chuckling.
>"Take all the time ya need, Anon. That don't need ta be ready for another forty minutes."
"I'm honestly trying to go as fast as I can. The dough just refuses to stick."
>Applejack stares at your fingers as you push the dough in, frowning.
>"No, no, sugarcube. Ya gotta give it a bit more...oomph, ya know?"
>You press down on the dough a little harder, but the orange pony shakes her head.
>"Not that much, Anon. Ya gotta find the right amount of force."
"I didn't think it got so technical."
>"Trust me, doin' this fer years, ya learn all the ins and outs of bakin' apple pie."
>She inspects the dough a little more.
>You give it one final push, and she smiles.
>"There ya go, Anon! Now it's time for the fillin'."
"You're not gonna get super specific with this too, are you?"
>"If ah didn't, we wouldn't have the best apple pies in Ponyville, Anon."
>Rolling your eyes, you grab apples to fill the pie with, placing them on the outside of the pie and moving to the inside.
>"Nice, ah like yer form."
"Uh, thanks?"
>Once the apples are all stacked into the pie, Applejack looks over the filling for flaws.
>"Ah gotta say, this is pretty good, except that there's too much filling. It'll make the pie bake wrong."
"Then why don't you fix it, pie master?"
>She scoffs, grabbing the bits of extra filling.
>"Ah'm just tryin' ta help, Anon."
"You are helping. I watch you do it so I don't have to."
>The farmpony sighs, placing the crust on top of the pie.
>"Ya know, yer not always gonna be able to rely on others. Sometimes, ya gotta do things fer yerself."
>She grabs a fork in her mouth and gives it to you.
>"Now prove you can work for yerself by pokin' holes in that top crust."
>You take the fork and use the handle to make small punctures in the crust.
>Applejack nods at your work, this time silent about any mistakes you may have made.
>The pie now sits on the counter, ready to go into the oven.
"Okay, so is that it?"
>"Yup. All we gotta do is wait fer this pie to finish. Then, we'll bake yours."
"Good. ...so what'd you make me do this for, anyways?"
>"No reason in particular. Just felt like havin' a bud to chat with. Figured since ya don't like farm work this was the closest thing we could do together."
"No catch or anything?"
>"Nope."
>It'd be ridiculous to suspect some ulterior motive from applehorse anyways, wouldn't it?
>Maybe some bonding time was all you needed.
>You shrug, glad to have at least been able to hang out with Applejack and learn how to make an apple pie.