This Is Where The Title Goes

11

"Hi Twilight! Have any advice on how to get a cutie mark?"

"Hiii AppleBloom, have any friendship lessons, solved problems, fixed conundrums, posed posers, puzzled-out puzzles, answered riddles, entirely-done enigmas, hitched-up hitches, cooked-up complications, dusted difficulties, sewn-up snags, well-worked worries or aaanything else that could be sent in a letter to Princess Celestia?"

"Absolutely!" they both exclaimed, and took out their notes to start comparing.

The yellow earth filly and purple alicorn were in an apple orchard, called Sweet Apple Acres. They had an exchanging session twice a week.

"They're mad," said a purple dragon (named Spike) whom we have met before.

"I abso-apple-lutely agree," said an orange earth pony with a blonde mane and a cowboy hat. We have not met her before. Her name is Applejack, and she is Apple Bloom's big sister.

Applejack runs Sweet Apple Acres, an Apple orchard, and bucks apples most of the time. She is doing so right now.

If you have not seen a pony buck a tree before, then watch carefully as this is a prime example. It is over in barely a second, but in that time the back legs are raised, thighs rolled up like springs, and for a fraction of a second she freezes, aiming perfectly. Then she releases her legs like a bullet, hitting straight in the centre of the trunk, sending shudders up the tree and snapping the apples off the branches.

Sadly, this magnificent art is not possible in our world, where the apple stems are too thick and strong, and the strength required to buck a tree would not only have to be enough to actually snap the tree itself before it can get the apples off, but would also crush the back legs of the participant.

Of course, after this explanation, we have to run a little after Spike and Applejack, who have moved on to buck other apple trees. Well, Applejack bucks the trees. As I said before, bucking is an art, and so far no dragons have been found to have it.

I do apologise, I should have paused time. We've missed a bit of their conversation as well.

"... and she never does any of her princess duties either. I'm worried, Applejack."

"Ah know. Apples! But everythin' changes, Spike."

"I know that. But... it's changing in the wrong direction!"

"Who are ya to say what direction's right or wrong, Spike? Apples! That decision's not up to us. Apples! But maybe what seems wrong now, will turn out just fine in the future."

Spike smiled.

"I- I guess you're right."

The Sun began to set, turning the sky orange.