Despite her being slightly bigger than me, Luna was able to fit down the hall as we had made our way upstairs and back into my lonely bedroom. Instead of a simple box spring and mattress on the floor. It looked like a basic wooden frame had formed to lift the bed off the floor.

Sweet, at least I don’t have to feel completely hopeless in this existence at least.

“odd,” Luna noted the changes to the bed, as also the bed was made with sheets, blankets, a single pillow, as well Bookie appeared in the middle of the bed.

“It seems little by little your safe haven appears more furnished for simply living.”

The book gently opened with a couple pages flipping before the ink bled onto the page,

“Oh Joy, So I got to be prepared for anything whenever I’m here…”

“What does this book talk about?” The princess looks at me inquisitively before looking back at the book. That’s right, she doesn’t know what led up to us meeting here in this ‘dream’ which wasn’t a pleasant experience at all. Still can slightly feel where Twilight’s magic had struck my face.

“You see Luna, Before you saved me from falling into that pit, I had a strange relapse of what felt like a P.T.S.D. flare up, yet, it was more of a hallucination or something like that because I saw shadow Ponies instead of the girls.”

Luna’s brows raise in surprise, “You mean, you saw Shadow ponies in the Everfree?”

“Not quite, I don’t know, fuck my memory is all fogged from the whole experience. speaking of which, Hey bookie.”

The book sat up on it’s own, facing us.

“Is there, by any chance, a way to replay any of my memories during my, venture, in the Everfree?”

“Care to explain?” We both ask in unison, we give a quick confused glance at each other before looking back at Bookie.

“yeah, what about-oh fuck no, don’t tell me!”

“Oh look, a funny book, at least we can read your sarcasm from here buddy.”

at the end of the last sentence an ‘X’ and ‘D’ appeared next to it. Great, he found the texting memories…

“Not very amused Bookie,” I deadpan at the book.

“I have no clue what you both are talking about.” Luna chimes in after soaking all of this during the brief moment of silence,

“Yet, I am curious about this ‘gamer jargon’ you both are talking about, sounds like something of entertainment from where you come from.”

“Actually, yeah, Me and my good Friend Alex have been big gamers since as far back as the windows ninety-eight days.”

“Windows Ninety-eight?”

“I am confused, all of these human things will take time to understand.” Luna narrates herself shaking her head.

“I think there is going to be a lot of time for that.” I smile as I watch Bookie flip onto a new page.

I felt a slight wave of drowsiness rock across my mind, “Yeah, I think so, Well Princess.” as I look at the Alicorn, my vision did the wave, “Whoa...I think you should be heading out before I collapse.

Luna nods, I could see that she was still soaking in my conversations with Bookie so far, “Agreed, I can obviously help myself out of here. It is strange though.” Bookie claps shut before sliding off the bed, thudding onto the floor then slid under it.

“Shoot,”

“I was only able to enter your dreamscape when in close proximity to you, I think that is because the curse isn’t affecting you in that respect.”

“Ob-” I wobble slightly, taking a seat on the bed, “obviously, I could only determine that because of this house.”

“Yes, I doubt I'll be able to delve and discover what is causing this, but no matter, this curse is very strange by far, otherwise I would have cured you of it long ago.”

I didn’t really respond because the obvious was just that obvious, that and I was starting to feel a lot of weight increasing on me. my body was starting to call for the comforts of the bed. I lazily kicked off my boots, tossed my coat onto the bed, lifted the blanket, crawled in and covered myself while she spoke to me.

“Yeah, couldn’t say either…”

“Until next time, Jeff, hope you take care and maybe you’ll be able to overcome this madness by yourself if the worst calls for it.”

A grumble spills out of my mouth in reply,

“Good night, and-” she pauses, I think she was about to say something along the lines of ‘sweet dreams’ but that would be a lie in itself.

“Rest well.” she said simply before my eyelids drifted closed.

I felt nothing nor dreamt of anything more, just that uneasy darkness. Then I hear a muffled sound, then felt something faint. Probably nothing.

“Jeff,” I hear a voice, “uh, You okay?” It sounds echoey and accented, who the heck could that be- I felt a jolt that rocked my body as I started to feel myself again. Then I hear the gently impact of a hoof against wood.

“Hey, rise and shine human.” I felt the jolt again, is, whoever that is, kicking my bed?

“Ah, buck it.” I felt a heavier kick against the bed. As if being pulled out of a nightmare, I jerked then sprang up.

“Whointhe?” My vision was freaking out from the deep sleep I was in, my eyes stung from the burst of light. I swore I hear a chuckle from somewhere.

“Ugh, Who...who the hell-” I rub my eyes trying to get them to water back up from being surprisingly dry.

“Oh, pardon tha rude-awaken sugarcube, but it’s almost noon and ya been talkin’ in between snorin’.” I finally blink the moisture back into my eyes and took a good look at who was propped up against the foot of my bed staring at me.

She is orange coated, blond and wore a cowboy hat. Wait, wasn’t this-

“I didn’t think I've slept this long.” Then the feeling of sweat soaked clothing came to me while I looked down at myself. I look up at the pony that walks over to the side of the bed.

“Ya’ll be lucky that I was at least being kind tah let ya sleep this long.”

“huh?”

“Ya see, Twilight asked me tah keep watch over ya while ya’s sleepin.” She shrugs, “Guess that doesn’t need to happenin’ now.”

“So, now what?” I ask her absently, I start to feel a warm hole bore into my stomach, that familiar feeling of hunger oh grrreat.

“Welp, She did mention that she be busy today readin’ more about what’s been botherin’ yah and I can’t really leave ya by ye lonesome, so how about ya come along with me back to the farm.”

Damn, can’t get any more country than that I think. Don’t really see a problem with that either; kinda been wondering about how the rest of the girls lived not to mention carried on their daily lives while i’m stuck fighting my inner demon, literally!

“A sound plan,” I toss the blanket off me before kicking my feet over the side, “I’ll be a bit, Just need to grab my coat and boots.” The country girl looks me up-n-down before shaking her head.

“Well, that’s fine but don’t be lalagagin’ though, you’ve burned enough daylight as is.” She turns towards the door of my room, “I’ll be outside waitin’,”

After she left, I start to get myself back together, found my only shirt, put it on. found my boots, new long socks, slipped them both back on. Jacket, check. Wait, don’t I have-

“Ha, found it.” I pick up a still, moderately full, horse pill bottle of their version of ibuprofen. Stuff it into a pocket just in case, then, giving the room a final look over. I was set, five minutes flat and out the door I went.

The day blares right into my eyes as I walk out the doorless threshold. I saw it fell over during the night, well, couldn’t of heard it because well, Mental base…

“Ready when you are, Applejack right?”

“Yup, It’s a bit of a trot human,” The country mare points off to the right, “so hope yer legs are workin’.”

“I think being able to get around town yesterday and the day before didn’t say that my legs are working fine then, I don’t know what else would”

“We will see Jeff.” she starts walking, I follow after.

“So, answer me this,” I fold my arms thoughtfully looking at her, “How come Twilight has you and the others watching over me still?”

“Beats me, I honestly think ya can take care’ve things on yer own, but, taken’ that yah had that conniption fit a while back, I think having any extra pair of eyes-n-hooves to make sure yer fine would be appreciated.”

“Makes sense, however, I seriously doubt you’ll be able to make it out here every morning’ just to watch over some human.”

“Honestly, I really can’t because there is enough work on tha farm to keep me from comin’ ta town, that’s why I think the other girls try ta keep an eye on ya if ya hadn’t risen like ye did this morning.” I didn’t really think I had slept in, doesn’t really feel like I did, but I can only take this cowgirl’s word for it and the fact the sun is resting somewhere maybe in the ballpark range of ten-thirty or eleven.

I think before I can get my hands on a good watch, I’m going to be checking the time the old fashioned way, watching the sun.

Unlike the few days I was able to walk about town, the local ponies seem to not really pay me much attention to me, but there were still eyes watching me walk through this little town. Then again, I don't think they haven’t really seen me outside the company of one of the girls.

I can guess it is like I’m under constant guard and they see that as such with some relief. Are they really that special to these ponies? Not to mention-

“Oh no, look out!!” cries a voice from somewhere.

“what in tarn-heads up Jeff!” Applejack shoves me to the side of the street with some force; I almost tumble into another unicorn as something came crashing into the dirt road, right where I once stood.

“What in the hay are yah thinkin’?!” Applejack snapped to someone.

“Sorry, kinda, didn’t expect to see you this close so soon.”

“Excuse me creature, Do you mind?!” snaps the unicorn as she lifted me off the ground and shoves me away from her once I was on my feet. She trots along while looking away from me as if insulted by my existence.

Who pissed in your coffee? I could only ponder while I dust myself off. I look at who almost crashed into me.

The pony, that stood up dusting herself off was a pegasus, solid gray with a blond mane and tail. she is wearing what looked like a postman’s cap and had the matching iconic messenger bag slung around her torso.

“Well, ya could’ve hurt somepony by doin’ that, be a bit more careful next time will ya?”

“Yeah, of course,” signs the pegasus sadly, “By the way, do you know If I can find a, Jefferson Revere?”

“You mean me?” I ask raising a hand to the mare, when she turned to face me I was startled by how her light amber eyes were...off centered, looking in different directions, in fact they were simply, derpy.

“Oh good, apparently the pony that wanted to give this to you-” she walks up to me, digging into her bag, “-was just swamped at her work so…” she produced a-what the fuck, another pink envelope?!

“Here you go.” I politely took the envelope from the mailmare gritting my teeth,

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it, well,” she glances from between both me and Applejack, “if you excuse me I gotta get back to my route, have a good day guys.” she took flight head, well, right into a swing sign of a nearby business before shaking the impact off to fly towards another part of Ponyville.

“See ya later Derpy.” Applejack waves before looking back at me.

“Who would send that to you-”

“Pinkie…” I grumble as I carefully opened the envelope as it blew up into a cloud of confetti with a perfect, unfolded, letter appearing in my hand.

“How in the fuck does she even know?!” I smack a hand across the paper.

“Beats me, but I tend to naught to think too much ‘bout it.” Applejack had walks over to read over my shoulder.

“Not sure what even half that means, but I can see she’s been looking out for you too.”

I was about to question how if I haven’t even seen her, but then again, how the hell does she know about mental base? I haven’t even barely started walking and my head was starting to throb with pain.

“Either way-” I crumple the paper up before tossing it off to the side, “It’s really getting on my nerves, can’t she just see me in person or something?” I shrug as I watch Applejack continue her walking towards probably down the road towards her home.

“I’ve known her for a long time and she hasn’t done anything really this strange before, But her sendin’ ya letters is a little odder than most of her shenanigans.”

“Splendid…”

With that note, I could only ponder upon why the method of letters to communicate with me while we walk out of town. We didn’t speak much after leaving town, it felt awkward, but I can take that Applejack isn’t really much for small talk.

Neither am I, but damn she stands out when it comes to the rest of the girls. I mean, Rarity can talk my ears off while Twilight can incite a migraine by simply speaking factually. Then, there is Applejack, short to the point country girl.

I doubt there isn’t much for her to say to me either. That is probably going to change when we get to the farm. All the while, something ran across my mind.

“Wait, that pegasus’s name is Derpy?”
“Yup, kinda fitting for a pony that is a bit of a clutzy flyer.”
“Never thought I would hear Clutz and flyer be used together either.”
“Nope, but she tries her best not to be so-”
“Derpy?”
“yeah...”

Score one for irony there folks!

We move on down the familiar dirt road, I try to keep up a decent speed as to not lose anymore daylight while there was any. Though the sun was maybe hour-n-half away from noon, there was much to be done.

The summer season was only a few months away from over and there was much to be done, maybe to many I could list right away but the fact of the matter is:

Why in burning tartarus would I be foalsitting this human when there is so much to be done?!

I can understand Twilight’s concern for him but there isn’t much else I can really see in needin’ to watch over him since he seems more than able to stand on his-well-two hooves? What the blazes did she call those things he walked on?! Never mind that!

“So, aside the obvious being the obvious, what goes on this farm of yours?” The human asks after some ten minutes or so of walking.

“Oh, We ain’t like any other farm ‘round these parts.” I reply with a shrug, “We have the largest Apple orchard in anywhere here in Equestria, we also are known for making the best foods out of the apples we grow right outside our backdoor.”

“Wow, didn’t think I'll be seeing an organic farm in person,” Organic? The hay is that?

“You see, back home, such farms have been getting hit hard by the BLM and the industrial farms,” I shook my head at Jeff trying not to put too much thought into what he is talking about.

“Sweet farm families like yours get pressed hard by either steep maintenance costs, land taxes or even falsely made lawsuits that rob them of their hard earned livelihood.”

“I see, well, here at our farm, we ain’t no industrial whatevers ya called it, but at least we enjoy watching our hard work put a smile on everypony’s face when they take a bite out of one our apples or one of our homemade Apple based treats.” I stated with a sense of pride, no other pony could beat what we can give to the kind folks of ponyvile or anywhere for that matter.

“Cool, maybe I could give you highly praised goods a try when we get there.”

“Oh sure, just be mindful though, we don’t normally get that many guests out our way for how far we are planted,” The human waved the subject off.

The open field progressively melded into the small patch of forest that stood between town and home.

“Oh no worries AJ, like we discussed back there, I can handle this walk like no-” He StumbleS over something,”-what the shit?” he stops to look at what his strange hooves tripped over.

“What is it?” I stop to watch him kneel down, taking a closer look at something.

“Looks like I almost tripped over a, wire?” He reacheS out with I think is called a finger and plucked at a thin wire that vibrated with that single pluck.

“Who would set something like this out in the middle of nowhere?” I started backing up, I only rolled my eyes at what that was.

“I can take an easy guess, My little sister and her friends…” As soon as I said that, he plucked at the string again,

“-but why?” the third pluck snapped the string and something popped over head along the tree branches that hung over the road. When we both looked up, I saw something coming at us, more like swinging at us.

“Oh shit, look out!” I felt something shove into me before I watch a white blur crash into the human, picking him off the ground by only three hooves before hitting the ground.

Having stumbled out of the way, “What in tarnation?!” I looked over to see that the human was enveloped in a what looked like a white bed sheet with ropes attached to it.

“The fuck is this?!” I heard the foul mouthed creature blubbered from underneath the mess. Wasn’t long before I heard the crashing of brush around us and watched as three little, camouflaged, fillies come galloping towards the human.

“WE got’em!” cried the blond filly with the red mane, “WE definitely caught one of those meanies!!”

“Sure looks too big to be just one…” The orange pegasus filly with light, magenta(that the word was?) mane noted as the surrounded the lump that was the human underneath their crudely made trap.

“Maybe we got’em both!” the white, multi-shaded purple maned unicorn filly suggested taking a stance, a stick floating in her magic close by her.

“We sure got ya now didn’t we,? Ya big bully!” Apple Bloom boasted proudly.

“Who’s there?!” Jeff asked as he stopped moving, “I’m not a bull-”

“AHH! Sounds like one of them for sure!” Scootaloo recoiled, taking a step back with a flap of her tiny wings

“Their trying to trick us, let’s not let’em escape!” Sweetie Bell Glared getting ready to strike.

“That net won’t last forever girls!” Apple Bloom pointed out before they paused to look at eachother, seeing who will say or do something next before they look back at the bed sheet net.

“Uhhh, can you help me out of this-”

I could only facehoof as I watch the fillies, brandishing fragile sticks and a wiffle bat, start swinging into the mass. Though of course, being just school fillies, they didn’t pack that much of a punch to their swings.

Then again, watching them struggle with taking down their “Adversary” and the human under the sheet trying to get out, was very funny. I couldn’t help but laugh at the whole scene as it happened right in front of me.

“We gotta knock’em out before they es-” The sheet moves suddenly and a hand caught the bat that Apple Bloom was using, “-cape?”

The other two stopped swinging as they watch the Human slowly emerge from under their trap, “You- ffffffreaking mind?!” He notices the kids and corrects himself on the spot.

Aside from feeling the faint sting of getting hit from three different attackers or fillies apparently. I’m kinda confused and agitated from being snared up in what looks like a bed sheet with rope laced through it.

Standing around me are the three that are responsible for this.

“I uh-uh,” stammers the little unicorn.

“Oh snap, we thought ya was-” the normal looking pony, had dropped the bat in shock, pointing a hoof at me.

“-a bully?” I finish looking at each of them, the little pegasus had fluttered a few paces away from me but still carried the stick in her hooves.

“W-We’re sorry mister, didn’t mean anythin’ by the-”

“Yeah, yeah uhh.”

“You’re the human aren’t you?” the unicorn blinks at me as she let the stick drop from her magic, “You look different standing up.”

“Wait, that’s him?!” the other two look at their friend.

“Well, duh, it is, we helped Fluttershy taking care of him, don’t any of you two remember.”

“I-uh-well.” the normal pony rubbed the back of her neck nervously.

“So who are you guys anyway?” I ask cutting into their conversation, I wasn’t going to stand here forever letting them trying to figure out if not to talk back or run.

“We, Mister, are tha Cutie mark Crusaders!” The Blond coated filly boasted, i can honestly say it was a bit adorable for such a little kid try to make her self and her friends look bigger as stood before me.

“Right, and may I ask why such brave crusaders would be setting a trap out in the middle of nowhere?” I knelt down to pick up the sheet they managed to ensnare me in, this whole set up looked like it was thrown together on the fly.

“Uhhh.”

“Yes Apple Bloom,” AppleJack finally stepped in, “Why did ya and your friends risk hurtin’ somepony with another one of ya’ll crazy contraptions?”

“At ease AJ,” I raised a hand to her, “I’m sure they got an explanation for this, besides, what harm was a bed sheet going to do to someone who already been through hell-n-back?”

The look the little filly glanced a thanks to me.

“To be frank mister,” the Unicorn tossed her stick aside, “The local colts have been tormenting us because of our lacking of a proper cutie mark.”

Why does she sound like another mare I know?

“Meaning?” I ask confused.

“Sweetie means that we don’t have our cutie marks.” The pegasus translated flatly, “So every other pony around here has been giving us grief for being-”

“The one thing we try to correct everyday now.” Apple Bloom added

“And seem to fail at correcting it,” Sweetie nodded

“Correcting what girls?” I asked shrugging at Applejack who didn’t look enthused at any of us talking away about what must be something mundane to her.

“Our blank flanks.” the three finished simultaneously.

I was a little stumped at this. How can having a tatoo looking mark on your thigh be so important to these little fillies. I shook my head in confusion while Apple Jack glanced up at the sky.

“As Much as we can morne another unsuccessful day, we oughta be headin’ back to the farm b’fore the sun gets down.”

“But, what if-”

“I seriously doubt those little varmints are goin’ to be comin’ ‘round here anytime soon, so let's hop to it girls.”

“Okay…” The slightly defeated crusaders started to follow the adult while I still stood on top of the ruined trap, watching at least one of them walk by with their head’s low and ears folded back.

That one was the Blond earth pony (i think the normal looking ones were called) with the red mane and tail. The other two didn’t seem to be too affected by this little mishap but there must be something up.

“Hey, It shouldn’t really be anything to worry about,” I spoke to her walking up beside her as we all started to continue towards the farm. I didn’t really mind much of how anxious the farm mare was being, having to spend more time away can get under one’s skin. I didn’t pay much mind to that but this little filly drew my attention.

“What now?” she blinked looking up at me, she stood no higher than my hips, but her bow tie brought the height to my waist.

“I said that little confusion isn’t really worth getting worked up over, You see you three didn’t really hurt me at all.”

“Yeah, I know,” she sighed, “it isn’t that, didn’t expect much of it when the girls wanted to throw somethin’ together all quick like.” she explained, she didn’t really wanted to make eye contact with anyone aside with the ground, “It’s just-” she stopped to look up ahead, probably at either her friends or AppleJack for a moment before shaking her head, “ah, Never mind me, Just didn’t expect things to go the way they did I guess.”

Cocking a brow at the kid, the things you tend to stumble into these days and I have only been awake for only a few days now I’m coming across stuff like this so far. Kinda like tuning into days of our lives right in the middle of cliff hanger friday. Nnnot that I did that on purpose or anything. ANYWAYS! I watched the filly hurry up to catch up with her friends while I watched pondering. Maybe I’m thinking too much into it, just a matter of everypony’s takes failures differently I guess. I noticed the three little fillies walking a little ahead of us, they turned slightly towards the orchard.

I shrugged as I followed on after the group, just beyond the trees I could barely make out what looks like a large barn in the distance.

It looked like any farm at a glance,

A large barn in the middle of the lot, another some short distance away, a carrot themed place towards the back of the property, a fenced in chicken coop and several smaller storage sheds. Aside from the carrot tower house, most of the buildings were painted a apple red complete with white trim.

Surrounding the buildings were various fields of corn, hay, the carrot field surrounding the carrot tower; but what must of gave the farm it’s name sake was the massive Apple Tree orchard that practally encompases the other half the property.

A “wow” slipped out of my mouth as me and the ponies came up to the archway that was connected to a white picket fence stretching in both ways, more than likely outlining the property line. Yet, one thing seemed to be missing from this picture…

“So, where’s your house?” I asked aloud stopping under the archway. Applejack stopped to look at me, slightly confused.

“Come again?”

“I see two big barns and that stranger place towards the back, but...where’s your house?”

She blinked at me before tipping her stetson over her eyes for a moment with a sigh, “Yer lookin’ at it, Jeff.” she smiled slightly gesturing a hoof towards the closest barn.

“Wait, so, you’re tellin’ me that you literally live in a barn?” That stirred a giggling chuckle from the fillies as they passed us. Even Applejack had an issue keeping a smirk from appearing, probably not trying to be offended by or laugh at my ignorance.

“No Sugarcube, that is the main house.” she gestures towards the house with anod, “come’on, ya just need tah see for yerself from the inside.”

Don’t know why, but the way the farmhouse is designed is tripping me out. I shook the confusion out of my head before following the farm mare towards the house. As we drew closer, could make out the details of the outside commodities of a family house, aside from the massive barn door on the side that was currently wide open. Could park a fancy RV in there, damn!

A fenced in yard that had a smaller, similarly themed, archway that led up to what must of been the front door of the “house”. The front porch looked like it was a recent addition to the house, the paint on the pillars looked slightly brighter compared to the rest of the building.

“Whoa, someone’s burning green.” I observed with my nose.

“Do what now?” Applejack glanced at me confused by my Oregonian slang.

I picked up the scent right as we stepped onto the lawn towards the front porch. I glanced around to only spot the source of the familiar odor. There sat a pale green coated, pure white maned, old mare relaxing in a rocking chair and in one hoof was a rather cool looking antique tobacco pipe. Getting closer to the steps, the pipe was made out of a carved out of what looked like a light, russet red wood, the bowl had two images carved, one on each side. One depicting an old tree, the other, a strange figure standing on two legs leveling what looked like a metal rod pressed against its shoulder. Obviously humanoid with a rifle of sorts, or i think that what it looked like…

The stem was, at least from where I stood, could almost be as long as my entire hand from middle finger tip to wrist. Made out of what looked like ivory or marble. Eh, leaning towards ivory taking how humble these ponies looked.

The old mare took a drag from the pipe, watching us as we stepped onto the porch, Applejack walked up to her.

Exhaling, the old lady’s eyes narrowed at her, “Yer late jackie.”

“I know, I know Granny, but we ran inta tha girls on tha way here.” Applejack removes her stetson and waved it in front of her face, probably fanning the fresh smoke away from herself.

“Where are they, ya know how I get a bit antsy when yer sittin’ here-”
“Oh ye don’t be frettin’, They be headin’ off into the orchard, playin’ with ‘nother half cooked idea on how tah get their cutie mark no doubt.” the old mare, Or granny (how fitting), looked passed Applejack and at to me, couldn’t tell if she was glaring at me or was just simply pie-eyed.

“Is that the friend Twilight been yammerin’ ‘bout this whole time?” she asks pointing the pipe at me, if it weren’t for the fact that I’m still a stranger here, I would of confused that as an offer for a hit.

“Yeah, he was the reason we was late gettin’ here.”
“Uhm, you know I’m standin’ right here AJ.” pointing an index at her.
“Point being?” Granny cracked a grin, “I take it ya slept most’ve the mornin’ away didn’t ya?”
“Ehhh, you can say that.” I shrugged walking up to the two, dear god, at least i’m familiar with the odor. While Applejack coughed slightly as the smoke dissipated I was breathing in the “tainted” air just fine.
“Should’ve warned me you was gunna smoke today Granny.” Applejack had to back up as the intensity of the smoke was a bit much for her, however, I should probably do the same, the rare case of second hand might actually happen to me taking how much i have not been around this stuff.

“Well, though’ tha smell would’ve given it away miss sensitive nose.”
“It did,” Applejack grimaced, “when we were just outside the yard!”

A laugh clicked in my throat, “The winds didn’t want to share I guess.” I mused aloud, no one caught it though, “then again, the winds have been really calm today.”

“Fine day for workin’, find day for smokin’.” Granny chuckled before taking the pipe, flipping upside down in her hooves then tapped the ashes out against the arm of the chair before setting it on the small corner that stood next to the chair. On that table top sat not only the pipe but what looked like a fist sized jar. Must be legal here in Equestria,
“But, I think fer miss featherweight’s sake here, I’s just finish my routine later.” she got up with a stretch before standing. She didn’t stand no taller than just my stomach where Applejack stood an inch or so taller than Twilight, which was either chest or neck level, mainly gauging from the top of their heads to my body height, which wasn’t much, just five foot-ten.

Hell, I’m not surprised that I have yet to really meet anypony taller than me that stood on their own four hooves. Aside from Luna of course.

“Where’s Mac?” AppleJack asked as Granny began to meander towards the front door, as she opened and held the door open to think, “Believe he’s on his way back from tha orchard, goddesses bless him, he managed tah get three carts dun while ya was fetchin’ this lazy human.”

“Hey!” we both chime at once.
“Ain’t my fault he was sleepin’ tha day away!” Applejack protests.
“Ain’t my fault that I was sleeping half the day away-wait a minute…” took me a second to notice that we had both spoke at the same time; I look from Applejack then to Granny who simply cackled that old lady laugh at us as she went inside.

As the old door swung slowly shut on its own.

“Ugh, Pony feathers! Now I have tah catch up with mac to at least get somethin’ done.”
“Let me guess, harvest seasons runnin’ slow for all of you?”

“What’d ya think?!” I put my hands up to her in the manner of whoa now!.

“I don’t know, obviously yes?” she placed a hoof on her face with an aggravated sigh.

“Look Applejack, If anything I can offer whatever help I can give if it means getting some shit caught up.”

“Not sure, ya not gunna freak out on us out there?”

“Nnope,” I deadpanned at her for that remark, “In fact, If need be, I’ll personally fill one of those damn carts myself!” she raised her brows at me in a doubtful expression tipping her hat up.

“Welp, if ya say so, I’ll definitely hold ya to that-”

“After chow!” Granny’s voice came from inside the house, “Ya don’t need be makin’ ya selves sick caus ya skipped eatin’ and baking ya selves unda Celestia’s sun!” while we listened, I looked at Applejack confused while pointing a thumb next to us.

“H-How does she even knew we-”

“Can hear yas from in here, now get ya sorry, whinny hides in here!”

It was at that moment, when AppleJack’s ears twitched, she looked over towards the orchard, “Can hear tha cart, think Mac is showing up in time for lunch.” I turned to look over to see movement coming from the treeline of the orchard.

Indeed, I saw what looked like a solid red coated pony hitched up to a impressively loaded cart full of apples of varible colors. The only other distinguishing marker of the pony as he drew into the yard towards the other barn, was a bright green tattoo (or cutiemark i think everypony keeps calling them) on his rump like Applejacks mark.

“Come on, lets at least help him get tha cart done so we all can get off our-” she paused to look at my boots, “-hooves.” she shook her head before heading back down the steps, lept over the small fence and bee-lined towards the barn to meet up with this mac pony.

As I made my way around yard to catch up to them, I started to notice this pony more vividly. He had short, carrot orange, mane, had what looked like a customized yoke around his neck and most of all. He looked built like a clydesdale and is the tallest pony i have met that wasn’t an Alicorn.

He looked like he was talkin’ to Applejack as she caught up beside him to help him unhitch from the cart.

“Sorry ‘bout not being here most of tha mornin’ Big Mac, couldn’ get the human out here fast enough.”

“No worries,” He said simply, “ran inta issues myself gettin’ out there anyways.”

“Really? So today wasn’t our best was it?”

“Nnnope.” after the cart was unhitched, the muscular pony walked towards the house. He took a look at me as he passed me. Holy shit, wasn’t kidding on the height, his chin could pass over the top of my head easily.

“Take it ya gunna help out?” he simply cut to the chase, absently chewing on a wheat stem.

“Yeah, of course, gotta show how sorry I am for holding progress up today.”

“Eeyup, ya betta, ain’t know idle hooves today. We start right ‘way afta lunch.” he nodded in agreement. Applejack followed Big Mac towards the house, she still had a look of doubt on her face but probably had no choice but to agree with the big guy.

Why do I feel like I’ve been a hindrance to this bunch, I’m not lazy folks, just, troubled...

Author's Notes:

I think the apples had gotten the wrong first impression of him... heh, we'll see how he does in fixing that.

It seems that I have trouble working on chapters that require a lot of detail and/or slow paced, but eventually, I get it done sure, but, I think I have tendencies to stall on writing these kinds of chapters.