Title:           CanterU: 35+ Sunday
Author:          Kiyo3
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/4NPk8fNJ
First Edit:      Tuesday 29th of October 2013 05:25:24 PM CDT
Last Edit:       Tuesday 29th of October 2013 05:25:24 PM CDT

Welcome to CanterU: The Last Straw+ Edition!
 
The Story So Far: http://pastebin.com/u/Kiyo3
Yesterday with posts: >>http://archive.heinessen.com/mlp/thread/14123090
 
"Anon? Anon, wake up. Time ta git up 'n go."
>Applejack puts her lips on yours.
>That gets you up.
"Anon, can't ya control yerself fer a minute?"
>Up in more ways than one.
>Applejack rolls her eyes and kisses you again.
"What're ya gonna do without me?
>You have no idea.
>You get out of bed and shower off a days worth of work.
>Time to start a new day.
>Of work.
>Yay...
>Applejack meets you outside.
"Are ya ready to go?"
>Nope.
>But hard work never killed no one.
"Good."
>Big Mac is pushing Applebloom on a swing.
>How... sweet.
"C'mon ya'll. Let's git 'er done!"
>The two come over to you.
"Alright everybody... we're gonna split up into pairs. Y'all know what ta do..."
>You... have an idea...
>You should go with...
 
A. Applejack
B. Big Mac
C. Applebloom
 
>Applebloom.
>She needs an example of why climbing trees is bad/dangerous.
"Ah wasn't gonna do that..."
>You know that mischievous look like the back of your hand.
"Watch out fer her, will ya Anon? She'll need all the help she can git."
>Applebloom pouts.
>/b/ would be jealous
>"Ah c'n do this on mah own! Ah ain't so young!"
>How little is little?
"Haha, relax, sugar cube. Anon's plenty strong. Right, Anon?"
>You flex the gains.
>Applebloom's mouth becomes unhinged.
>Yeah.
>You look good.
"Let's git started then!"
>The little girl leads you out deep into the orchard.
>More trees to pick.
>Great.
"Don't worry, Anon! We'll git this done lickity-split!"
>Her enthusiasm is sickening.
 
A. Business
B. Bizness (trips)
C. Sneak off
 
>The apple picking.
>Boring.
>How could a family do this for generations?
"Ah think it's fun! Mah family loves this farm more than anythin'."
>Really?
>That's interesting.
>You start talking to Applebloom about school.
>Any friends?
"Not really... Some girls are pretty mean ta me..."
>She should try forming a club or something.
>People with the same interests and shit like that.
>Just... make some friends so High School becomes bearable.
"A secret s'ciety, eh?"
>Not exactly, but yeah...
"That's a great idea! Thanks Anon!"
>No problem kid.
"Ya think Ah can climb the trees now?"
>You don't want her falling...
"Don't worry! Ah can do it!"
>Well... okay.
>You help her into the trees.
>The work actually becomes easier because of it.
"On ta the next field."
>Great.
"So, Anon... did ya talk ta Applejack?"
 
A. Business
B. Dodge the question
C. Skip work
 
>You had a short talk.
>In a tree house, nonetheless.
"The old tree house? Really?"
>Yep.
>And the talk hadn't been any less serious.
"What'dya talk about?"
>Just... stuff.
"C'mon, Anon! Tell me!"
>It's nothing serious...
>You tried coming up with ways to keep Applejack in school.
>But nothing is coming up.
>Scholarship, commuting...
>Just how bad is the situation here?
>Applebloom rubs her arm uncomfortably.
"Ah... Ah dunno. Granny won't tell me. She just says not ta worry about it."
>Yeah.
>It's pretty serious...
 
>A while later.
"Whew! Ah thought we'd never git done!"
>Well, Applebloom had you helping out.
>Of course she worked faster.
"Applebloom, finished already?"
"Yeah, Applejack! Anon's the best!"
>Aw, stop it kid.
>She'll make your blood boil under your cheeks...
>Applebloom runs off inside.
"Ah can smell breakfast!"
>Finally.
>You're starving.
>The remaining group heads off inside and takes a seat at the table.
>Prayer and food gets passed around.
>Only one of those you enjoy.
 
A. Applebloom
B. Big Mac
C Applebloom
D. Granny Smith
 
>You didn't see Big Mac come back yesterday.
>What was he up too?
>No answer, eh?
>Was it at least fun?
"Eeyup."
>Granny Smith goes back to the counter.
"Did'ya go to that festival in town? Ah heard it was purty big!"
"Eeyup."
>A festival?
"A festival? Did ya git me anythin'?"
>The silent king takes his bag and pulls out a small figurine.
>Looks poorly crafted, but hey.
>Not everything homemade works.
>A floorboard creaks...
"Fer me?! Thanks Big Mac!"
"Eeyup."
>You gotta get in good with this guy...
>How was midterms?
"Eeyup."
>O...K...
>Is he good for next quarter?
>Applejack nudges you in the ribs.
"Anon..."
"Nope."
>At least he's honest.
>Must run in the family.
>You probably shouldn't have asked that though...
>Quite insensitive...
 
>The Apples start cleaning the kitchen.
>You try to help out, but Granny keeps sitting you back down.
"Yer our guest, Anon. Don't ya worry about a thin'."
>Er, thanks Granny.
 
A. Explore the house
B. Go outside.
C. Go to the tree house
 
>Applebloom runs outside to play or something.
>When you were her age, all you did was go on the internet.
>And look at pictures of women.
>That sort of thing...
>Big Mac heads outside and starts the truck.
>Later man.
"Eeyup."
>That leaves you and a house full of women.
>Disregarding the age difference.
>You go to the living room and start looking around.
>The fireplace has a ledge full of pictures and trinkets on top of it.
>There's an old one of a few girls making a quilt or a blanket.
>Is that Granny Smith?
>She was hot.
>In a Gone With the Wind sort of way.
>And there's a picture of a young Applejack and...
>Her parents?
>Where are they anyway...?
"They... They died a while ago..."
>Applejack!
>Sorry, yo-
"No, it's alright. Ah wanted ta see the picture again mahself..."
>She takes it into her hands.
"Y'know, Ah can't even remember what they sound like. But, rememberin' them... it gets me through the hard times, ya know?"
>Yeah...
"Ah... Ah just wish they could be here now... ta help me with this..."
>Applejack...
>You take her into your arms.
>She'll be okay.
"Ah gotta go check the numbers for the farm out. Ah'll be upstairs if ya need me..."
>She leaves the living room.
>Leaving you alone...
>You look back at the photo of AJ's parents.
>God...
 
A. Help Applejack
B. Go outside
C. Watch T.V.
 
>You head upstairs to Applejack's room.
>Maybe you can help her out.
>Knock first.
"Anon? C'mon in."
>You walk into her room.
>She's at her desk going through a bunch of papers.
>Tax returns?
"Yeah. All fer the past year. And the budget fer the farm."
>She pulls out a calculator and pencil.
>Looks like this could be some work...
>She want help?
"Sure. Take these and start checkin' the math, will ya?"
>Of course.
>You take a chair and pencil.
>This could be a while.
 
>It's getting dark by the time you finish going over the money.
>For the 5th time.
>You really want to give Applejack a reason to stay...
>But the money doesn't want to help you out.
>The farm is really in debt...
"Ah know... Ah didn't think it was this bad..."
>She shoves the papers on the ground and throws the pencil.
>The calculator follows soon after.
"Just ferget it. Ah can't stay at CU. Ah ain't got the grades or the money. Ah'll just work here at this dyin' farm fer the rest of mah life."
>She runs to the bed buries herself in the pillow.
>Applejack...
 
A. Comfort her
B. Go over the numbers again
C. Leave
 
>Applejack... she needs time to cry.
>You quietly walk out of the room with the papers.
>Maybe you can find something.
>Sure, you've tried 5 times already.
>But you didn't have Applejack's papers those times...
 
>Well, you tried.
>There's nothing there.
>Except a few thousand.
>Thank the gods for high school economics class.
>You go back into Applejack's room.
>Applejack...
"What, Anon? Can't ya see Ah'm-"
>You hold up the paper in front of her.
"Is... Is this real?"
>Yep.
>She can stay for the quarter.
"A-Anon...!"
>Applejack jumps and hugs you, pushing you down to the floor.
>You try to breath, but her kisses keep you from doing that.
"Ah'm sorry Anon. Ah'm just... Ah just can't believe it!"
>Neither can you.
>But the proof is there.
>And AJ can stay.
>That's all that really matters.
>Applejack takes your hand and brings you down stairs.
>Big Mac and Granny Smith are sitting at the table.
>With two men...
>Blue suit, white suit.
>Slick red hair.
>Who's the Irish?
"Flim and Flam, at your service, sir. I hope you're enjoying your stay here at the Apple family farm."
>Yeah, you are.
>Who are they again?
"We work for the bank. This land is about to be foreclosed."
>W-What?
"Granny, he ain't serious, right?"
"Of course we are, my dear! Land is serious business. Imagine the profit you could get from this orchard."
>Granny slams her cane on the floor.
"This land has been part'f our family fer generations. Ya can't just take it from us!"
"Then we better see some green, Granny..."
>Applejack looks at you, clearly worried.
>You feel your pocket.
>The tax receipt...
 
A. Show the receipt
B. Keep it
C. Bargain
 
>You take your hand...
>And take Applejacks.
>How much does the family owe anyway?
"They owe quite a bit of money, young man. The bank has always kept the family afloat for all these years..."
"But now, the money is running thinner and thinner into our pockets! It's quite a pretty penny!"
>In English, please?
"Around $9000."
"Maybe even $10000."
"I was pretty sure it was $11000, Flam."
>Jesus Christ...
>The return in your pocket lists the bank as owing the family at least $12000...
>The Apple's have been getting cheated by these guys for years...
>But you can't throw your ace yet.
>That money could go towards Big Mac and Applejack.
>Maybe even Applebloom, when the time comes.
>There's no way this money can get into Flim and Flam's hands...
>Let's make a deal, F&F.
>Granny Smith tugs at your clothes.
"Anonymous, ya don't hafta git involved in our affair, really... We can handle it..."
>No, not this time.
>They'll need all the help they can get.
>The two businessmen look at each other and nod.
"So, young man, you want to make a deal on behalf of the family, eh?"
>That's right.
"What do you want to offer?"
 
A. Land
B. Share of the crop
C. Historical landmark (dubs)
D. The money
 
>How about the land?
"The land, eh?"
>Flim and Flam do a two person huddle.
"Anon, whaddaya think yer doin'? Our family owned this land for years! Ya can't just sell it to 'em!"
>Sorry, Granny.
>But something's gotta give.
"Well now, I think we've come to a decision!"
>They have?
"Yes, but first..."
"How much land are you willing to give up?"
"None of it, ya schemin' var-"
"Hush, Granny!"
>How much would cover the debt?
"Oh, we'd say..."
"About 1/4 of the farm."
>What?
>That's... steep...
>Why is it so much?
"This farm has a lot of money invested into it."
"And if no one buys..."
"The value goes under!"
"We're just here to collect what's ours!"
>Granny breaks free of Applejack's hold.
"It ain't yours! It's ours!"
"Sorry Granny. It's only business."
>These bastards...
>Maybe you can... reduce the land grab?
"The more land you give, the less money the family owes."
"So how much are you willing to put up?"
>How about a corner?
>That's about, what, an eighth?
"Only an eighth?"
"Young man, you have certainly lost your head if you think we'll settle for an eighth."
>Fine...
>How about, uh...
"You're leading us to nowhere! We need a deal here!"
"Yer darn right, ya varmit!"
>The land grab isn't gonna work...
"How about this deal? If the Apples can come up with $5000, we won't bother them for another month."
>Ok, great.
>But where's that money coming from?
 
A. Applejack and Big Mac stay
B. Share of the crop
C. The money
 
>You feel your pocket again and look at AJ.
>She looks at her grandmother, then at you.
>A nod.
>You take out the receipt and place it on the table.
>Maybe the two businessmen should take a look at it?
>Flim... or Flam... takes the paper and shows it to his brother.
"This is... interesting..."
>The two shift uncomfortably.
>Something wrong?
"Nothing's wrong, my boy! We're just... thinking..."
>Applejack turns to you.
"What's so funny about the paper?"
>You explain to her the bank's error.
"Is it really that bad?"
>Yep.
>That money rightfully belongs to the Apple family.
>And those two know that, right?
>Flim and Flam are running their eyes over the paper quickly.
>They're totally caug-
"Ah hah! I've found it!"
>Found what?
>They aren't supposed to be happy!
>Flim speaks to his brother for a bit before going through his pocket.
>He pulls out a few bills.
>Hundreds in rolls of ten.
"Here you are, madam! All..."
>$7000?!
>The Apple's are owed at least $12000.
"Incorrect, sir! You made a slight error riiiiight here."
>He points to a comma.
>No,that's a decimal.
>Oh.
>Dammit.
"As it stands, all of your taxes are in order. However, the family still owes around $2000."
>How does that even happen?
"It's the dryest dry season this part of the world's seen in a long time."
"So long in fact that we had to increase our demands, you see!"
>God... dammit.
"It's been fun, but we simply must be going now."
"Ta-ta."
>The brothers head out the door.
>What can you do no-
"Wait!"
>Applejack?
>She runs out the door after the two men.
"Applejack, git back in here! There ain't nuthin' we c'n do 'bout it!"
>You run over to Applejack, with Big Mac and Granny on your heels.
"Flim 'n Flam! Ah... Ah offer ya 15 percent of this here farm!"
>The family gasps.
"Applejack, what're ya doin'?"
>She turns back to you and her folks, tears welling in her eyes.
"Ah'm savin' this family."
>Flim and Flam rifle through their suitcases.
"Now that there is a deal!"
>Flim turns to you.
"You could learn a thing or two from miss Applejack here."
>You... Applejack... what?
>Flam hastily writes something down on paper and has Flim sign and stamp it.
>Notarized, apparently.
"Here's the terms of the deal... Now if you sign here..."
>Applejack takes a pen from them and reads over the contract.
>Her hand trembles as she writes.
"Applejack, give it here!"
>Granny hobbles over to Applejack and takes the pen.
>She signs it and throws it at Flim.
"Lousy no good... Ah oughta-"
"Granny, please!"
>Applejack's tears are coming on slowly.
>Imagine having to sell a part of your childhood, of your life, of your family?
>She... she just did that.
>And that's nothing you'd ever wish on anyone.
"Well, good day to you all!"
"We'll be back!"
>They hop in their car and drive off.
>Those fuckers.
"Applejack, Ah-"
"No, Granny, Ah'm sorry!"
>Applejack runs back inside.
>This whole thing...
>Jesus Christ.
 
A. Stay outside
B. Applejack
C. Go to your room
 
>You head back inside the house.
>Applejack's cries echo through the house.
>You run upstairs and open her door.
"A-Anon... Just git on outta here! Please!"
>You can't do that.
>Applejack needs someone right now.
>Being alone won't help.
>She gets up, her eyes burning.
"Anon, how could ya understand what Ah'm feelin' right now?! Ah just sold mah family's land... The land Ah've lived on mah whole life... The land mah ma and pa worked on... Ah just gave it away! Like it was nothin'!"
>Applejack...
"No Anon... Ah've betrayed mah family! The one thing Ah value the most, and Ah hurt 'em! All so Ah could keep goin' ta school. All so Ah could..."
>She looks at you, longing and pained.
"All so Ah could stay with ya, Anon. Just so Ah could be with you everyday and know that ya were me whenever Ah needed help. And all mah friends..."
>The tears start up again.
"Ah can't, Anon. Mah family..."
>She runs into your arms.
>You don't know what to say.
>Your words could make things worse, or better.
>It's not smart to risk it.
"Applejack?"
>The door opens.
>It's Applebloom, followed by the rest of the family.
>Applejack wipes away her tears, in vain of course.
"Ah'm... Ah'm so sorry ya'll. What Ah did was so selfish, an' Ah wasn't thinkin' wi-"
"Applejack, it's okay..."
>Granny Smith, really?
>The old woman nods at you and comes over to Applejack.
"Ah... At first, Ah thought what ya did was hasty, but Ah thought it over. What you did was right."
"R-really?"
>Granny Smith nods and calls the rest of the clan over.
"With less farm ta work with, we can git more done 'round here. An' soon e'nuff we can buy back the land from the bank."
>Applejack wipes away a few more tears.
"Ya... ya really think so?"
"Eeyup."
>Applebloom jumps around excitedly.
"We'll git so much more done! Ah'll start workin' extra hard 'round here!"
>Applebloom...
>So young... so hopeful...
>Maybe that bubble won't burst after all.
>The family gathers Applejack into a group hug.
"Git on in 'ere Anon. Yer part of the family too."
>R-really?
>You join the family.
>This feels...
>This feels good.
 
"C'mon Anon! Hurry up!"
>Applejack, it's 12 at night.
>And knowing farm people wake up early...
>Why are you out here again?
"Quit yer complainin' and git up here!"
>Up?
>Oh, the tree house.
>You climb up the ladder and get inside.
>It's so dark...
"Shut up and watch."
>Watch what?
>You hear something being pulled.
>A rope?
>And suddenly, the roof opens up.
>You've never seen...
>The stars.
>So many, so bright.
"It's never like this out in the city, y'know? All that there light pollution."
>It's so beautiful.
>Luna would be jealous.
>Applejack takes your hand.
"Anon, Ah just wanted to say... thank ya, fer comin' here with me. Ah don't think we coulda saved the farm without ya."
>You just look at her and smile.
"What's so funny?"
>Nothing.
>Nothing at all.
 
>Those stars are beautiful, aren't they?
 
End Day 35+
 
End Day 35+
 
The Apple Family arc: Completed!
 
Met the Flim Flam Bros.
 
Applejack rapport up!
Granny Smith rapport up!
Applebloom rapport up!
Big McIntosh rapport up!
 
The farm is saved!