Chapter IV

I yawned as I climbed out of bed, and stretched out a bit, hearing a few satisfying pops, then shut off the alarm. With that, I headed to the bathroom to do my daily routine, and was soon heading downstairs to find Rex cooking up eggs, hay, and toast. This made me smile as I sat down at the table, and spotted ED-E floating around.

I then spoke. "Hey, Rex?" He glanced at me. "Where was ED-E yesterday?"

Rex flipped an egg into the air and caught it in the pan. "He was charging up, since his battery was low and could've went out any second."

I nodded as I grabbed a nearby paper, and began to read. I then raised an eyebrow. "Ever heard of somepony called 'Spitfire'?"

Rex shook his head. "Nope, why?"

"It says here she was awarded the spot of Captain in the Wonderbolts."

Rex shrugged as he handed me my breakfast and apple juice. "Good for that mare, then."

I nodded as I took a sip of my drink, and continued reading.

...Later...

I stepped out of the library, ED-E by my side as we headed for the Market. As we did so, I felt the ground begin to shake violently, which made me raise an eyebrow, then heard Rainbow cry out in the distance. "STAMPEDE!"

I looked off towards Sweet Apple Acres and spotted the massive amount of cows heading this way, while everypony around us began to run around in panic, then run inside and lock the doors. I then spotted Pinkie being... herself, standing upright, and vibrating as she went up and down. "Hey! This makes my voice sound silly!"

I gave a sigh, and grabbed her with my magic, lifting her off the ground as I narrowed my eyes at the stampede.

The Mayor then began speaking. "Everypony calm down, there is no need to panic."

Rarity then trotted over to her and placed a dramatic hoof against her forehead. "But Mayor, whatever shall we do?!"

Rainbow cried out in response. "Look there!"

We all spotted Applejack rushing ahead of the crowd with a puppy next to her. This caused the girls to cheer, but I could tell things might end badly.

Pinkie then spoke before stuffing her face in a random bag of Popcorn. "This is the best rodeo show I've ever seen!"

I rolled my eyes at her, and began using my magic, which caused a massive barrier of magic to surround the entrance of Ponyville, then another, and another, until it was sure enough to at least slow down time for the stampede. (Time Control Spell)

But instead of heading for the spell, Applejack somehow got the stampede to go the other way, making me sigh in relief and remove the spell. The girls began cheering once again, while Applejack soon came over the hill. She let out a 'YEE HAW' and ran off, making Pinkie copy her, and began to play around.

I glanced at The Mayor who spoke. "Applejack was just -- just --"

Pinkie then fell from the sky while crying out. "APPLETASTIC!"

The Mayor simply smiled "Exactly! We must do something to thank Applejack for single-hoofedly saving the town."

Pinkie smiled widely. "I know!" Just then, the entire town was covered in decorations and the such, making me raise an eyebrow. How did she... "A Party!"

I was very confused now as Rarity put up a Apple Family Banner. This made me trot over to Rarity. "How did Pinkie..."

Rarity ignored me. "Now, is Applejack all set, Darling?"

Rainbow floated over, and blushed upon seeing me. "Hey, Ethan." I waved at her which made her blush a little more, then look at Rarity. "Actually, I haven't seen her all week. Not since the stampede." She then gave a smile as she placed a hoof over her chest. "But she'll be here for sure. Applejack is never late,"

I went wide eyed. "IT'S BEEN A WEEK?!"

They raised eyebrows at me as Rarity nodded. "Um... yes, darling, how could you not know?"

"But Pinkie--"

Pinkie interrupted me. "Hey, Ethan! You gotta give the crowd a few words!"

My eye twitched slightly, then sighed heavily as I trotted over to the wooden speech stand. I then scratched my ear with slight worry, then thought of something.

"(Speech 60/60) Welcome, everypony. Today, we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help in matters great and small. (Speech 80/80) A pony whose contributions to everypony here, and has helped many of us. (Speech 100/100) And that pony is... Applejack!"

Everypony cheered and stomped their hooves on the ground as The Mayor took my spot. "And so, with no further ado, it is my privilage to give the Prize Pony of Ponyville Award to our beloved guest of honor, a pony of the utmost trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity, Ponyville's most capable and dependable friend, Applejack!"

Everypony began to cheer as Rex walked up to my side. "Man, ponies sure love to rant on about this stuff."

Everypony then gasped as Applejack wasn't behind the curtains, which made me raise an eyebrow. "Well, there's always a first, I guess."

"I'm here! I'm here!"

We looked over to where we heard one of the most adorable yawns (in my opinion anyways) and Applejack got to the stand, the most tired look in her eyes and small, and hardly noticable bags under her eyes. "Thank you kindly for this here, uh, award thingy." She yawned again as she looked in the reflection. "It's so bright and shiny, and" She began to chuckle weirdly. "I sure do look funny." She then began to play with the reflection, which Pinkie somehow joined in on.

I let out a groan and got up to the stage. "Alright then, I think you've been up a little too late, Applejack, so let's just grab the award and I'll take you home."

She yawned, and seemed to hear something completely different. "Yeah, I like helpin' the pony folks and--" She yawned again as her ears went back. "And stuff." She then fell asleep. I sighed heavily, trotted over and wrapped a wing around Applejack, before getting a few hoofs away before she quickly shook her head awake. "Oh! Uh, yeah! Uh, thanks!" She then looked back at the award. "Um... what about the... thingy?"

I sighed in response, and picked up the award with my magic, then looked at the crowd. "Sorry about this, everypony! Please feel free to eat some of the food at the buffet table!"

Rainbow came up to me with a slight blush. "Do you have to help her like... that?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Like what?" I then looked at my wing. "Like this?" She nodded. "Why?" I then gained a light bulb. "Rainbow, are you jealous?"

She went wide eyed, blush on her face, as she shook her head quickly. "Who, me?! No!! I was just... um... curious, is all. Hehe?"

I gave a coy smile. "Uh-huh, well if you want, I could lead you home as well, with my wing around your body."

She went even more wide eyed as the blush went redder. "Oh! I, uh... Well... Is it getting hot out here?" I chuckled lightly. "Um, what I was trying to say was... um, you know, stuff... and... I'm going to go see if Rarity needs help with anything." She then was gone with a rainbow blur following her, which made me chuckle lightly.

...

Once I made it to Sweet Apple Acres with Applejack, she began to buck trees with many buckets under them, which made me raise an eyebrow. "Um, Applejack, I think you should go and get some sleep, instead of working hard."

She shook her head slightly. "No... mm... Ah gotta, do this thingy... before it's too late." She yawned after that.

I let out a sigh as I summoned a few buckets from her farm, and made the apples float off a few nearby trees, and land in the buckets, making large piles as I spoke. "At least let me help."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "Help?" She scoffed. "No way, no how!"

I grunted at her pride she was showing. "I'll say this simply. There's no way you can do it all on your own, and you only got Big Mac. And since you told me your family lives all across Equestria, that means you REALLY need help."

She then got in my face. "Is that a challenge?"

I snarled as I pushed her back with my own forehead. "It was an offer to help, and you don't have to be a bitch about it."

She stepped back in anger. "Well, Ah'm gonna prove to you that I can do it." She then pushed past me. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got apples to bucket."

I glared at her in response, then my horn glowed, and a good three-fourths of the trees around us fell into the buckets, making Applejack cry out in anger, while I began trotting away.

...

I took a sip of my tea, and sighed calmly, before I heard Rex cry out. "AAH! MISSILE!"

Rex ran down the stairs and dived under a table, while I heard a crash upstairs, sighed heavily, and went up said stairs. Once up there, I spotted Rainbow on the siding of the balcony, which made me raise an eyebrow, and trotted over. "Hey, Rainbow." She looked up and blushed slightly. "You know, you're beautiful and all, but ponies usually come over from downstairs to ask somepony out."

She blushed heavily, still not getting the joke. "Wha... Well... I... Um... Applejack..."

I raised a hoof. "When will you know I'm just trying to joke around with you?" She sighed in relief. "So, I take it you would rather I help Applejack then you?"

She gave an annoyed look. "Yep."

I nodded, and offered my hoof, which she took, and I helped her up. She then flew up a bit, and waved at me. "See you around, Ethan." Then flew off.

I sighed heavily, jumped off the balcony, and glided over to the edge of Ponyville, before walking towards Sweet Apple Acres.

...

I soon came up from behind Applejack, seeing her hit her head on a branch, which made me wince slightly. "Applejack, we need to talk." She shook her ears slightly, then looked at me. "Applejack, we really need to talk."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "We bees squawk?!" She scratched her ear. "Ah don't think so."

"No, WE. NEED. TO. TALK."

"Oh! Well, why didn't you say so?! What you want to talk about?!"

My horn glowed, and her head did as well, before she stayed silent, then spoke. "Hey, what happened to that ringing?"

I sighed. "Rainbow Dash dropped in to see me today."

"That's quite neighborly of her."

I gave a deep frown. "Indeed, especially the fact she crashed onto my balcony after you launched her into the air."

She hung her head. "Oh, yeah. Ah wasn't feeling quite myself this mornin'."

I trotted to her side. "Exactly why I offered help, because your working too hard."

She went wide eyed. "What? Kelp? I don't need kelp. I don't even like seaweed."

Must have forgot to hold the spell a little longer.

"Help! You need help!"

She glared at me for the second time today. "Nothin' doin', Ethan. Ah'm gonna prove to you, to everypony, that I can do this on my own." She then bumped into the same branch, and her eyes were now uneven. "Now, if you'll excuse me, Ah gotta go help Pinkie Pie."

I let out a sigh as Applejack trotted away, looked at the trees, then grew an idea.

...

I finished taking down the apples for almost half of the farm, before I heard ED-E float up behind me. This made me look over. "Hey, ED-E, what's up?" He beeped a few times. "Of course, and I bet it was Applejack, wasn't it?" ED-E bobbed. "Well, at least she'll have a lot less work to do now. Come on."

...

I entered the hospital and looked at the nurse. "I came as soon as I heard."

Rex ran up to my side. "Yeah!"

The nurse gave a relieved sigh. "Thank you, Ethan, we need all the help we can get."

Everypony inside was sick, and there were muffins on the ground as well. Rex picked one up, sniffed it, and placed a claw into it, then grunted. "Looks like a failure at baking muffins." A worm then poked out. "AAH!"

Rex fell over from the sudden revelation, while I rolled my eyes at him and looked at the nurse. "What happened?"

"It was a mishap with some of the baked goods."

Pinkie then spoke from her bed, her face completely green. "No, not baked goods. Baked bads." Her cheeks then puffed up, making me growl. "Applejack."

Rex tossed the muffin in the trash, and grunted. "If I was a baby dragon, then I MIGHT try to eat one. But I'm not stupid anymore.

...

I trotted over to Applejack, who was fast asleep, hanging upside down from the sideways wheel barrel. "Applejack, I am close to the point where I won't give you an option, now listen closely. YOU. NEED. HELP!"

Applejack's eyes shot open as she yelped in surprise. "What?! Huh?! Oh, it's you, Ethan." She yawned. "I know what you're gonna say. But the answer is still no."

I grunted as I trotted over to a tree, and looked at her. "How about a test then." Applejack got down and trotted over to me. "If you can knock these apples down with one buck, without my help, then I'll leave you be."

Applejack gave a groggy nod, and bucked the tree, which only made it shake slightly. She then gave me an annoyed look, and I gave a buck as soft as hers, making the apples fall into the buckets. This made her go wide eyed, as I spoke. "See, you need help, and lots of sleep."

She scoffed again. "No, Ah don't. No, no, no!"

She then trotted off towards Fluttershy's. And I thought a Super Mutant was stubborn. Well, I'll just wait until she messes up again, and then I won't give her a choice.

...

"STAMPEDE!!"

I grunted as I looked over from my table at the restaurant, along with Rex and ED-E, and we saw a stampede of bunnies running through town. Many mares fainted as the bunnies ran past them, and began crying out in horror with too much drama. I then spotted the bunnies eating all the plants, even those mares' flowers.

I gave a grunt. "Come on Rex, Applejack doesn't get anymore chances."

Rex nodded as we got to our hooves, and headed for Sweet Apple Acres... again.

...

I stormed up to Applejack, while Rex was holding a camera to record the whole thing, and I spoke in annoyance. "That was the last strew, Applejack. Thanks to your Apple Bucking, it caused problems for more then just you. It's overpropelled pegasus, practically poisoned plenty of ponies, and terrorized bushes of brand-new bouncing bunnies. I don't care what you say, no way, no how, you're getting help."

She bucked the tree behind her, and got the apples in the baskets, making her smirk. "HA! No, Ah don't. Look, Ah did it. Ah harvested the entire Sweet Apple Acres without your help. How do you like them apples?"

I gave an annoyed look, then pointed my hoof to the other side, making her look over, and gasped upon seeing an entire forest of them. Then she began whimpering. Then, after a little bit, she fainted.

Rex then began laughing. "Comedy gold!" I glared at him, took the camera from his claws, and crushed it in my magic, making him slump down with an annoyed look. "Not cool."

I trotted over to Applejack, and shook her a little, making her open her eyes. "Applejack."

"Huh...?"

"Enough of this, Applejack, as much as I respect your family and their ways, you're always there to help anypony in need. So maybe, you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and allow your friends to help you."

She sighed. "Okay, Ethan."

I nodded. "Well, I wasn't going to give you a choice anyways, so..."

She chuckled awkwardly as I helped her to her hooves. "Right."

...

All the girls began to buck down apples, while Rex was shaking trees to make the apples fall, and ED-E flew through each tree, gaining enough altitude to knock apples out. As for me, I simply lifted a good three-fourths of the remaining trees and dumped them into buckets.

Applejack then came over with a cart full of Apple Juice. "How 'bout y'all take a little break? Ah got some fine Apple Juice waitin' fer you."

I trotted over and took a sip as Applejack sighed happily. "Girls... and Boys." I gave a mock salute. "Ah can't thank you enough for this help. Ah was actin' a bit stubborn."

I snorted. "A bit?"

"Okay, a might stubborn. And Ah'm awful sorry. Now, I know the town gave me the Prize Pony Award, but the real award is having you seven as mah friends."

Rex was crying as he tried to scramble up the remains of the camera now, while ED-E bobbed happily, and Rainbow spoke. "Whew! That applebucking sure made me hungry."

I nodded and pulled out some pies from my saddlebags. "I may not be as good a cook as Applejack or Pinkie, but I think I did well with these."

I sat the pies on the table, making everypony get a slice, and began eating, and seemed to really like it. I then raised an eyebrow as Rainbow leaned against me as she ate, her eyes closed, but shrugged it off as my wing wrapped around her. She blushed but didn't open her eyes, and we continued to eat in peace.