Chapter 7: Apple of My Eye

>Knock on door detected... Begin Start-up Sequence

>Initializing...

>Checking Main Power... Check

>Synchronizing Internal Clock... Check

>Rolling to assess Inner Ear... Check

>Groaning to assess Vocal Cords... Check

>System Check complete... Waking

My legs are asleep, I've got sleep in my eye, my mane looks like a natural disaster had somehow landed atop my head, and somepony was beating against my door before the sun was up... Yup, I'm on a farm. I lifted my head to see who exactly was at the door. The pony on the other side knocked again, but this time they called out,

"Up and 'at 'em son! Ya'll already let yer breakfast get cold. Come on out 'fore we finish the day without you!" Oddly enough, it was a voice I hadn't heard yet. It sounded elderly so I thought maybe it might be Granny Smith, but as I disentangled myself from the sheets I was still guessing.

By the time I had finished extricating myself from the warm, plush prison I had spent the wee hours of the night in, Granny Smith was bursting in the room with Applejack in tow. Applejack was sputtering apologies like a car and emissions, but Granny Smith never said anything. Granny Smith was quick to hush Applejack as she whipped out a tape measure, and began measuring me all over. Applejack motioned for me to keep calm and let her measure on, but she was getting awfully... grabby. After about a minute of this Granny Smith mumbled something, and nodded at Applejack. Applejack sighed a deep sigh, and Granny Smith went about her day as if nothing had happened.

"She was just checkin' to see if yer good enough to plow the fields and all... Ya know." Applejack was blushing and stammering as if her words meant something embarrassing. If they did I didn't catch it, and I simply shook my mane straight and nodded her a farewell. I didn't have time for words, and Granny Smith had something about a breakfast.

****

"I've never had hay bacon this good before, Granny Smith! How did you get so good?" I had never hay bacon at all, but that doesn't stop it from being good.

Granny Smith chuckled, and flipped another piece of hay bacon over in the pan. "Awh hayseeds sonny, when you get to be as old as this mare you pick up a few know-hows. Anyhow, that pink sugar pony that Applejack spends so much time with used to always come down to have my special hay bacon. I got a lot of practice then." Granny Smith was quiet for a couple seconds, but then she inhaled a long breath, and started a long story. "Ya ever heard the story on how we got hay bacon? I doubt it, not many ponies have. Story goes, (Now remember that this ain't entirely true.) that a long time ago there was a fourth race of ponies. These ponies were strange, instead of growin' plants outta the soil like us Earth Ponies they ate critters!" I feigned shock and disgust as Granny Smith left the hay bacon in the pan to burn. Applejack rolled her eyes, and took over the bacon related duties. "Oh that's right! Ever wondered why it's called hay bacon? 'Cus it ain't honest bacon! Real bacon comes from... Pigs!" I jumped from my chair in fright. More because Granny Smith had nearly leapt across the table. She fell onto her back laughing, then said something about her hip. She got up, and trotted off, seeming to have forgot that I was even there. Applejack and I stood in silence as we recovered from Granny's fairly random story. Applejack didn't know, for now, that the story hit close to home. She went on tending the bacon, while I finished what I had.

"So uh... meat-eating ponies huh?" I chuckled, and gave Applejack an understanding smile.

"Ah'm really sorry 'bout that sugarcube. She don't mean nothin' by it." Applejack was suspiciously avoiding eye contact, but I dismissed it as embarrassment. I did my best to alleviate it.

"Well shoot, ain't no harm ever been done by nopony tellin' a story." I did my best mock accent, which was surprisingly good. Applejack chuckled, and turned to face me. She had a smile finally, and she shook her head as she went back to the bacon.

"Yer somethin' Ah'll tell you what, certainly somethin'." She took the remaining bacon out of the pan, put it on a plate, and covered it with a rag. She cocked her head towards the door, I chomped the surviving hay bacon, and then I followed her out the door.

We went out onto the front porch, and got a good look at the farm. I saw Apple Bloom and two other fillies running down the road on their way to town. I heard the rhythmic thwacks of apple bucking, and I could hear the plops as the apples hit the ground. Applejack, to my right, let the wind blow her ponytail every which way. I let the breeze rush over me, and sighed as it swept upon me likes waves on the beach. Applejack nudged me, and led me down the path to where Big Mac was working.

I trotted up to Applejack's side, and gave her the once-over. "You're awfully quiet this morning, Applejack. Somethin' up?"

"Yup, Ah think somethin' is... the sky!" She took off, dashing in between trees as she went. She shouted back to me, "Now come on, Ah'll race ya to Big Mac!"

By the time I caught up to her, She already had a cart loaded to the brim with apples. She told me to come on over, so I cantered over to where she was standing. She slipped out of the harness, walked over to me, and gestured back at the cart. "Alrighty, all ya gotta do is take that cart up the hill to the barn over yonder. Now be careful, this here cart is about as full as they come. We're just tryin' to see how much weight yer little frame can handle. Ah'll be walkin' with ya'll on this run, but don't expect me to hold yer hoof all the time Tall, Dark, and Lunar." With that, she flipped my necklace up into my snout, and calmly leaned over to the nearest apple tree with a smug grin.

"Oh... It. Is. On. Mac, suit me up."I jumped over next to the cart's harness. Big Mac just gave me a look that said 'You are an idiot.' I hung my head, and grumbled, "Fine, but Applejack, this doesn't mean I'm not going to show you who has a so-called small frame." I slipped into the harness, and pulled up next to her. "I've got half a mind to race you, and the other half agrees." Then I took off up the path.

****

"Sooo.... should I pay for that?"

"Eeeyup"

"Look, Applejack was the one who put the weights in the cart. Have you ever had a cart break from just apples?"

"Nnnope, but Ah've had some break from stupidity."

"Was Applejack the cause of that too? I mean, I'm not debating-"

"Ya ya'll are."

"I'm not debating that I should pay for it. I'm debating whether or not this is because of my conduct."

"Yah were charging uphill with a cart full of apples, racing mah sister, who had no cart. You'd never hauled apples before yesterday, and yer not the biggest fella this side of the orchard. Ah'd say you were actin' mighty foolish."

"Fine, I'll work nights then. I stay up late better than I get up in the morning."

"That's not real hard!" Applejack shouted from under the cart, that layed broken at the bottom of the hill. Apples lay strewn about like a disaster area, and parts of cart were laid out like pieces of a puzzle.

"Hey! This is your fault. Seeing as how you were the one who put Big Macintosh's weights under the apples." At first I couldn't believe how heavy the cart was. But once the weights flew out on the cart's way back down the hill. I knew who to blame.

"Hoohoo! Ya shoulda seen how big ya'll's eyes got when you were huffin' and puffin' up the hill. I thought you were gonna pass out then and there! But don't sweat it none, Ah'll work nights with you, it's the best way to make it up to ya."

"Oh no you don't," Big Macintosh was shaking his head in disagreement, "don't think Ah forgot what happened last Applebuck Season. Ah'll be sent to the moon if Ah let you get that bad again."

"Well then Ah hope ya'll like bananas, 'cus Ah'm gonna help him. If that harness hadn't o' busted when it did poor ol' Cato may o' ended up in the hospital again!." Applejack got out from under the cart, and got face to face with Big Mac. Suddenly I felt like this was about to get bad.

"Yer always puttin yer friends and the ponyfolk first. Ya ever stop and think if this was gonna help yer family, Applejack? Just once, do ya stop and think if yer actions are hurtin' yer family? Ev'ry night Ah sat up in that bed listenin' to you tear yerself apart thumpin' on these damn apple trees! And now ya wanna help some stranger pay fer the damages he done? I ain't a stallion of many words, and this a damn rare sight, but Ah will not let you tear yerself apart fer some pony you think you owe somethin' to." And then he left, he went back down to the trees he had been bucking before. Applejack stood in stunned silence, and I didn't know what to say. I was pretty sure that was directed just as much at me as it was at her. I decided the best thing to do right now was to join Big Mac, and try to learn the ropes before he went to bed for the night.

We worked in silence for the rest of the day. We went in once to eat some lunch that Granny Smith had prepared, but we let Granny Smith dominate that conversation. She rambled on about this, that, and the other, but I didn't pay attention. I was watching Applejack for the subtle signs of a heavy heart. Big Mac was keen to notice this, and was quick to tell me that Applejack was under no circumstances allowed to help me at night. During normal hours it was fine, but if he caught us both up at night then he would put me out on the street. I knew that he was probably just making empty threats, but I wasn't about to test him. I would, however, work my tail off to try and pay him back. Thankfully, I could run off only a couple of hours of sleep. That didn't stop Granny Smith's smart comments, however. It seemed she had a sleep deprivation joke for every day of the week. I'd come in from the orchard when she was getting ready to make breakfast, and she would always be standing over the stove with an amused grin on her face. She'd say things like "Ya could carry apples in those bags under yer eyes!" Big Mac almost always worked on the opposite side of the orchard from me, and Applejack was almost never at breakfast. Applejack asked if I would want to start going up to the spring more regularly. I of course said yes, and we often spent our lunch break relieving tension in that immaculate spring. She would tell me about the adventures her friends would have, but she wouldn't talk about last Applebuck Season. One particular lunch break, about the third day of working nights, she finally caved.

"Ah've never met anypony more stubborn than Ah am, until now. If ya really wanna know so bad then Ah'll tell ya." She shifted uncomfortably, and rolled her jaw. Applejack gave me the sternest look she could muster, and began the story. "So last Applebuck Season Big Mac had busted up himself somethin' bad. It was up to me to harvest every apple in this orchard..."

By the time she had finished the story, we were about 2 hours late. Big Mac never said anything, and neither did we. Applejack's story had revealed why Big Mac was so reluctant to her working nights, and it told me just how dedicated she was to this farm. That night I brought in the last apples I needed to pay back Big Mac for the cart. It had taken me four straight days of work to get the apples in the barn. Big Mac and I stood in the barn when he noticed something wrong.

"Shoot boy, ya'll brought in a couple extra. Ah'm inclined to fetch ya a couple bits for your hard work. Give me a minute, and Ah'll have em right out." Big Mac started to walk away when I had an idea.

"Hey Big Mac! Forget the money. I've got something else that I think want. Where's your cellar?"

****

I helped Applejack slide into the spring, and she did her best to give me an inquisitive look from behind the blindfold. I had called her up here while the sun was on its descent, and had tied the blindfold at the base of the path that led here. Now, the sun was almost to the horizon, and I wanted it to be perfect. I told her to wait in the spring while I got something. I ducked behind a nearby rock, and lifted the surprise onto my back. I bit down on the handles of the two accessories, and went back to the spring. I plopped it down across from Applejack, and then she started asking questions.

"Alright Cato, what are ya'll up to I reckon?" Applejack raised a hoof to adjust the blindfold. I abruptly slapped her hoof back.

I tried to speak with stuff clenched in my teeth, "Oeh Noe yu dun't mishy," I set the items down, "you are not gonna ruin this surprise."

"Ow! Fine, I'll sit and be quiet." Applejack nursed her hoof. I thought how this was about the second time I had hit her. Hopefully, it wouldn't become a habit, but she still had that shiner from before so...

"Sorry, I just want this to be worth it. You can open your eyes on three. One... Two..." At two Applejack threw off the blindfold, and saw the surprise laid out before her. It was a cask of the best cider they made, and a dozen cupcakes from Sugarcube Corner.

Applejack sat in delicious silence, while I filled the two pint containers that once been clenched in my teeth. I set a pint and a cupcake next to her, then I plunged into the warm waters with a pint of my own. I sat with a smug expression, sipping the cider clenched in my hoof. Applejack finally spoke, "Cato, how... How did you put all of this together?"

I was a little confused at what she said, but I told her nonetheless. "I don't know what you mean by all of this, but it was easy considering. Big Mac wanted to pay me for some of the apples I brought in over the last few nights, but I told him I'd take a cask of cider instead. Then the cupcakes, I told Granny Smith that I would make breakfast for the next few days if she would loan me a few bits. After that, I asked Apple Bloom if she would run to Sugarcube Corner and pick up the cupcakes. In return, I would help her with her schoolwork. I'm running on two hours of sleep, but it was worth it. I wanted to repay you for all you've done, and for treating me like part of the Apple family. I thought some booze and sweets was the least I could do." I went over to refill my pint when Applejack climbed out of the pool, and walked over to me. I was paying more attention to my booze than to her to be honest. So when she threw her forehooves around my neck in a tight embrace, to say I wasn't shocked would be a bold-faced lie.

I did my best to hug back, even going as far as spilling my cider. "Oh, hey Applejack. Are you okay?"

Applejack eyes had misted up, but she was still smiling. "Cato, ya'll can't realize how much this means to me. Out here on the farm, we never really get a chance to enjoy our product, so to speak. Sittin' here, watchin' the sunset with you, and knockin' back a cold pint is all I could ever want."

"Speaking of knocking back a cold pint," At that I chugged what I had in my cup, set it next to the spring, and pulled the cask closer to the water. Applejack and I sat side by side in the spring, instead of across from each other. We chatted for a while, sipping cider all the while. Finally she looked at me and asked,

"What kind of name is Cato anyway? Sounds like potato." Her cider sloshed about in her cup.

"It's an old name for 'pony of prudence.' What kind of name is Applejack?" I polished off my pint and reached for the tap, when an idea formed in my inebriated brian.

"Well iffen we don't like each other's name, why not make up new ones fer each other?"

"Alright, I'll name you... Malum Oculi Mei, or just... something else for short." (Apple of my eye)

"Well fine Mr. Fancy, be that way. Hey! I'll call you Mr. Fancy."

"I like it, it sounds so... fancy." I had implemented my plan flawlessly.

"Ya know 'Mr. Fancy', by the time we're done with this cider Ah doubt we'll be able to trot down the hill without breakin' our necks."

I looked up, I had abandoned the cup and had just started taking it from the cask itself. "Ya well... Looks like I'm spending the night in the spring then. Is that such a bad thing?"

Applejack took a nice long breath in, and finally sighed, "Nope... Ah don't think it is, and Ah can't just let ya stay here all by yerself. 'Sides, what fun is there in drinking alone?" She looked over to me, but I had already fallen asleep with the tap open on the cask, pouring into my overflowing mouth. Applejack chuckled as she turned off the tap, and then she took her hat off and laid it on my head. Applejack refilled her pint, and sipped from it thoughtfully. "Yeah... all alone..." She set her cup down, and leaned her head against my shoulder. The apple farmer finally called it a night, and hit the hay, as the saying goes.