|
|
Post by ZeeStitch on Dec 18, 2012 14:59:51 GMT -5
For me and Tex ^^
Tex: Apple Buck & Harmony
Zee: Static Spice & Rodeo Rose
"I don't get it."
Rose rolled her eyes as she stood underneath the apple trees in the big orchard in Appleloosa. Her brother'd come to visit but Rose knew she had to help her Pa harvest some of the apples. Or at least get the nasty ones off the ground and chase away the squirrels and other critters who wanted to eat them up. Rose had a big basket next to her to drop the ugly apples in and a broom to chase away the critters. But with Static here, she thought he'd have some fun chasing away the creatures by flying into the trees and stirring them up. Though working in the orchard wasn't Rose's favorite pastime (as evident by her coil of rope cutie mark) she still would make her work as fun as possible.
Unfortunately, Static's idea of fun wasn't working. The Pegasus immediately regretted coming to Appleloosa. He should have just flown Rose back to Ponyville to show her his cutie mark. It'd popped up a week ago but he'd just gotten time to take the train to visit Rose. He'd even bought her a gift. A tiny little buffalo he'd carved out of wood. His cutie mark was reflective of his toy making talent, something his mother would have never guessed. The mark on his rump was a jack in the box.
"This doesn't make any sense," Static huffed, "I'm supposed to do WHAT now?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Kitexa on Dec 18, 2012 15:24:25 GMT -5
(Oh oh! I have an idea: would you mind if I make Apple Buck a little older, and play as his daughter, Harmony, too?)'
It had been a long time since Apple Buck's last visit to Appleloosa. Not without reasoning, of course. Since the destruction of the Oneiroi and his marriage to Lapis Lazuli, the young stallion hardly had time to visit his home town anymore. He'd been living in Ponyville with his family--close to his half-siblings and new (now well-known) friends. And while a part of him missed the immediate presence of his father in his life, Braeburn still paid plenty a visit.
This year, however, father and son hardly saw each other: the orchards produced a particularly full harvest and between Appleloosa and Ponyville, neither had time to set aside work.
Lapis must have noticed, for she suggested (insisted, actually, so like her mother that way) she and the other Apples could handle things without him for a few days.
One little pony, on the other hoof, did not agree with her mother, and it was by her protest Apple Buck now trotted along with his young unicorn daughter at his side.
"Where'd grandpa go off to?" Harmony chirped, accented tongue full of questioning. The older pony shrugged, beckoning his child to follow him down a particularly scattered path.
"I expect he's gotta few last minute orders ta give out 'fore he goes on a li'l break." (They really hadn't given him much notice. Showed up at his door, wide-grinned and bright-eyed.)
He'd missed it terribly.
Blue-gold unicorn quieted a moment, then nodded, as if agreeing with both the words and himself. "Oh. Okeydoke!"
Thatta girl. Buck thought, pale ears perked suddenly at the sound of voices up ahead. He smiled, looking down at his daughter.
"Hey, wanna meet some of yer Appleloosa kin?" (they must be relatives to be working out here.)
Harmony nodded again, entire head bobbing enthusiastically this time. "Sure do, Pa!"
Bi-eyed stallion's smile warmed, darting ahead--making sure to keep her in his peripheral vision. "C'mon then, li'l melody! After me!"
Squealing, the younger Apple clicked her hooves, and scampered after him.
|
|
|
|
Post by ZeeStitch on Dec 18, 2012 20:24:43 GMT -5
"STATIC SPICE DAMNIT WILL YOU GET UP THERE AND CHASE CRITTERS!!!"
Static groaned and shook his feet as he was laying down on his back basking in the sun. "Or pick up a basket 'n help me gather th' apples!"
"That's nasty! I don't wanna pick up those mushy things!" Rodeo Rose growled, head lowering as she tossed the basket of rotten apples at her brother. "GAH!" They landed on him, splooshing and making the colt smell like applesauce. A worm even made his way out of Static's mane.
"EW! YUCK! GROSS!"
"AHAHAHAHAHA!" The female rolled her rainbow mane on the ground, rolling about in laughter and pointing a hoof at her brother. She heard some voices up ahead and lifted her head from the ground while the rotten apple covered stallion was crying and complaining.
"Howdy strangers!" she whistled, "Y'all come from Appleloosa or somewhere else?" She waved a hoof at Apple Buck even if he hadn't come into vision yet.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kitexa on Dec 18, 2012 20:52:54 GMT -5
"Appleloosa, born an' raised." Apple Buck slowed to a stop, careful not to step in any of the mushy fruit. Harmony skidded to a stop at his heels, peering around at the older ponies with a polite little smile.
"This here li'l girl's Harmony," Blank-flank nodded to his daughter. "Ah'm Apple Buck." Two-toned eyes blinked, and his head cocked, studying the two carefully. The earth pony possessed a distinct "local" feel to her, but that rainbow mane stuck out like a sore hoof. He'd only ever known one pony with that coloring and he'd been of Cloudsdale origin.
The colt as a whole didn't seem to fit either, though no more than the unicorn tucked behind his forelegs. Internally, Buck shrugged. Just because something seems misplaced, doesn't mean it is.
"Who're y'all?"
|
|
|
|
Post by ZeeStitch on Dec 18, 2012 21:13:02 GMT -5
Rodeo gave a sweet smile to the little foal before she upturned her nose towards the male. She looked upset for a few minute. "Well, sheeeeyooot," she huffed, "Ah must be blinder than a bat. Ah'm sure ah'd have seen ya before. Ah've been here all muh life after all." The rainbow maned female gave a giggle towards her brother who landed on the ground before Apple Buck and shook off a bit of his mane, letting fly the apple mush.
"Ah'm Rodeo Rose," the girl said politely, removing her hat and bowing her head, "An' this here's mah brother, Static Spice. He's a city slicker, visitin' from Ponyville ya see. Didn't wanna do no work but we'll fix that right quick, won't we?" She winked at the unicorn while Static rolled his eyes.
"Nice to meet you," he said, "Sorry about the apple sauce bath." He leaned to the side. Maybe it was because he'd just so recently gotten his but he was drawn to the stallion's blank flank.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kitexa on Dec 18, 2012 23:05:45 GMT -5
"Don' worry yer head about it." Apple Buck chuckled, while Harmony giggled softly, venturing further away from her father's legs. Rainbow filly seemed nice--real nice--just like Aunt Summerfree, but louder. "Yes ma'am." Filly paused, smiling, bolder, at Rodeo Rose. "We live in Ponyville, too." Unicorn dared, accented in a mix of her parents'. "We're here visiting my gran'pa."
"That's right." Stallion echoed, slight distance upon noticing the pegasus' trailing gaze. He didn't...he didn't REALLY mind--he'd grown to accept he'd never get his cutie mark--it just...led to conversations inappropriate for new acquaintances. Clearing his throat, Buck continued. "Lahke the li' one here said; been livin' in Ponyville since Ah got married, but my Pa still lives here. Thought we'd say hello."
|
|
|
|
Post by ZeeStitch on Dec 19, 2012 13:54:42 GMT -5
"Ponyville eh?" Static said, trying to fixate his eyes somewhere else other than Apple Buck's blank flank, "Very cool! Totally rad! My mom lives there but our Dad lives here."
"Ah think he got that," Rose laughed, dipping her hat with a hoof, "Well lil' lady, would y'like t'play a game? It's kinda work, but ah like it." She kicked the basket with her hoof and it toppled over revealing two baskets. Static rolled his eyes as Rose picked up an apple in her hoof. "Ah used ta play this game when ah was just a filly. Mah Pa and ah used ta come out here all day and do this!"
Static frowned as he landed on the ground next to Buck. Rainbow Dash hadn't played games with him like this. Sure they'd flown together but that was all Mom ever wanted to do. It made his ears pin back and his lip quiver a bit to think of all the playtime he missed with Rodeo Rose because his mother had no sense of family.
"Y'do this," Rose explained, tossing the apple into the basket, "Y'make it the first time it's two points. Gotta throw it again, it's one point. Ah'll bet y'can beat me though!"
"You...ah...you ever play games like this?" Static asked up at Apple Buck hoping he'd have a kindred spirit. Maybe his mother or father hadn't played with him.
|
|
|
|
Post by Kitexa on Dec 22, 2012 0:18:48 GMT -5
Apple Buck remained quiet a moment, a bubble of pride as his daughter stepped away from him, embracing her confidence and joining the rainbow-maned mare. He'd been so worried she'd inherit his childhood shyness.
This helped put that fear at ease, and allowed him to focus on the pegasus. "Nothin' lahke this, no." Expression shifted, looking much older than twenty-eight. "Mah daddy...was a burdened stallion. Carried a weight on his shoulders all mah lahfe; he loved me plenny, but we didn't do a lotta playin' cuz he..had a lot goin' on." Gaze trailed back to his young daughter, youth returning to his eyes. "Gonna make sure li'l Harmony here never has ta deal with that." She deserves nothing but the best.
|
|
