In reply to Wordsmith (msg # 503):

"Uggghhh," Beamer let out a heavy sigh and turned to Wordsmith. "I think I will need that lemonade. I've been placed under town arrest."

"Town a-rest?" Wordsmith asked, "Well that's better than Town a-work, isn't it?" he grinned, fully knowing what he said and making no apoligies for it.

He trotted over to the cart with the lemonade and poured Beamer a glass and magicked it over to him, along with an apple, "Here ya go.  Sweet and Juicy, best apples I've ever had." he smiled.

"Don't make me plaid you," Beamer threatened Wordsmith after the writer made his pun.

Accepting the apple with a "Thanks" Beamer took a bite out of it and paused. It was a good apple. No! It was a great apple. It was a Celestia-Bless-Equestria apple. In a few rapid bites the green earth-pony devoured the apple core and all spitting out the seeds and stem when he was done.

Finished with his snack Beamer sat down and sipped on his lemonade and pondered on his situation.

Wordsmith plopped himself down near to Beamer, offering a friendly presence.  He poured himself some more lemonade, sipping it, "So.  Seems like you're stuck here it seems" the blue stallion said, in a measured tone, "I know it's small but Ponyville is a really nice place to stay."

Beamer looked at the blue stallion. "You know, it just occurred to me that I have no idea who you are."

"And I only know your name because you said it earlier" Wordsmith chuckled, "I'm Wordsmith, been in town for a little bit, but everyone's been so nice to me which is why I said it was such a nice town" he smiled, offering his hoof to the other stallion, "I'm sure you can find a place to stay til you get on your hooves and ... handle that business" he said with a surprising amount of tact

"Great," Beamer replied as he finished off his lemonade. "I'll take your basement."

Rainbow chuckled at Sweetie Belle's reaction to having her mane tussled, but she knew it was far from what Rarity would have done. She made a mental note to do that to Rarity one day. "Nah, that's what Captains are for." Dash smiled. "I'll be one soon enough, I'm sure. I get to handle some more responsibility when it comes to the newbies on the roster though."

She set the apples carefully on Applejack's back as suggested, flying above her and keeping them balanced. She was doing a very good job of it, actually. Tiny flight movements and precision were right up her alley, of course! "Did you say... cider?" she asked, forgetting about all else for the moment. "Oh, Applejack, please please save me a barrel this year? It can be my Hearth's Warming Gift early!"

Applejack was now pretty occupied, back to work, leaving Beamer and Wordsmith to sort out the question of 'Town arrest' themselves. She stepped evenly, trusting Rainbow to keep the bushels stacked on her strong back  steady. She wasn't disappointed.

Once she got her load into the barn, she made her way to one wall, stepping up carefully beneath a raised ledge that could slide in to take the weight of the stack of bushels from her back, holding them steady for storage.

Once the stack was secured, she looked up to Rainbow with a coy smile. "Ah ain't spoilin'yer  Hearth's warming  present for 'ya. But ah' will make sure ya' get some Cider." She stepped up to her, and nudged into her side.  "C'mon, we got a few more loads to run, before ah' can call it quits 'fer the day."

Wordsmith quirked an eyebrow at Beamer just inviting himself like that

Well, the 'joke' was on the other stallion

"I... don't have a basement, actually." Wordsmith said, giving a short 'heh' of a rueful chuckle, "outside of the Apple's here, I don't know anyone who Does have a basement, actually.  And the Apple's one is more a storage cellar anyway."

He did, however, make a note.  Make a storage cellar, it made good sense.

... could he?  Or would that ruin the integrity of an already built building?

Beamer took the input of new information in stride. "Even better. That way I can dig my own."

The green stallion reached across the writer and grabbed the pitcher of lemonade. He poured himself some more and continued.

"Of course if there isn't one already there I'll have to be careful not damage the structural integrity of the foundation," Beamer wasn't even talking to Wordsmith anymore as much as he was thinking out loud. "So I'll have to dig the main space next to the structure, then maybe a passage way in? Though that's assuming they didn't just raise the building up a bit off the ground. In which case I might just be able to stick some beams under the support struts and build around them. Either way I know I'll have to dig at least one exploratory shaft to see how deep it is until bedrock. Hmmmm."

Wordsmith blinked, not believing that Beamer would just... motor on like that.  Instead of going "oh" or something the green stallion was just planning on building under whatever building Wordsmith was living in

"You... also assume I have a building to build under" He said, starting to get rubbed the wrong way a little by Beamer's assumption of just taking his basement, then just... rooting under it.

Then again, he was already overheated from pulling the apple cart, so his temper was already on "short boil", something he hated.

It was Beamer's turn to quirk an eyebrow. "Huh. You make a good point."

He pulled the box that knocked him in his noggin a few moments earlier over to himself and began rummaging inside. To his delight his guess had been correct and this box contained his personal belongings: his saddle bags and his tools. After a moment of digging around he pulled out a sizable sack of bits and set it down in front of his blue companion.

"Well how about after you're done here we go find a place?"

Wordsmith chuckled, "Well..." He coughed, "Thing is, I -do- have a place." he grinned, "You were assuming, not asking." he pointed out, "Though I do have to wonder what the difference between a basement and a storage cellar is..." he asked more to himself than not.

He gently pushed the bag of bits back to the other stallion, "After I'm done here, I'm going home and taking a shower.  I'm also looking forward to a nap." he explained, "If you come with me, though, we can set you up with a place to stay."

Wordsmith narrowed his eyes, "Now, I know we just met, so I apologize if I'm being a bit rude.  I'm a bit over-heated at the moment and my temper is short.  If you stay at my place... no shenanigans." he motioned to the box that Beamer had been 'shipped' in, and the smaller box that clocked him and held his belongings, "It's new, and I worked hard for it and I'm a little stressed about keeping it."
This message was last edited by the player at 04:28, Wed 01 July 2015.

With Rainbow's agility and Applejack's strength, the two mares unloaded the carts in just six more trips, over two dozen barrels of apples loaded up and ready for processing into that sweet, rich Apple Family Cider that Rainbow craved so much.

Freshly glistening with her exertions, Applejack took one apple from the last bunch, and turned to Rainbow, stepping up to her and holding it out with her fetlocks as a treat. A reward. "It's not the best apple for eating, but it's got that cidery hint to the juices. We're gonna be brewin' the cider a bit closer to the Runnin' of the Leaves. Ah'm tryin' a new business plan with'em. Though..." Applejack paused, with a wistful smile to Rainbow Dash. "... ah'm gonna be a bit busy with it, so ah' probably won't be able ta' race you. But... mhm..." She put her hoof out to her lover's shoulder. "...Ah think we know who'd win that race, anyway, right?" She teased, a playful bit of challenge behind her voice.

In reply to Wordsmith (msg # 520):

"Huh," Beamer grunted. He had to concede to the blue stallion's logic.

Beamer had been making assumptions. Though in his defense they had been logical assumptions. Wordsmith looked as if he'd been doing farm work, and judging by his current state of fatigue hadn't been doing it for very long. After pointing out that he might not have a place of residence that had a basement it wasn't that big of a leap to conclude that the pony was renting a spot somewhere. A farm hand, a new one at that, doesn't make that much money and probably didn't have the savings to afford a place of their own.

Beamer, himself, currently didn't have enough to get a place the size he required, but with somepony else he might have just enough. It didn't hurt that Wordsmith seemed like he'd make at least an acceptable roommate.

Having a work space and a possible guinea pi- assistant would go a long ways towards making his incarceration here more tolerable.

The green earth-pony's thoughts were interrupted as Wordsmith pushed his bits back towards him.



Beamer blinked at the generous offer. "Thanks. But I make no promises. Shenanigans usually find me. Also..." inventor put his bag of bits back into his bag and pulled out a bandanna. He plucked a few of the ice cubes from the pitcher of lemonade and rolled them up in it. He tossed it over to Wordsmith. "...old surveyor's trick, drape that around your neck and it'll cool the blood as it circulates into your head and help cool ya down."

Rainbow Dash took the apple with a grin, tossing it up in the air and eating the whole thing as Applejack had done before. "Mmmm... it'sh yummy any'bay..." she nodded, speaking while chewing. After swallowing, she smirked at the challenge in Applejack's voice. "Oh you know who'd win, huh? Well considering how we both finished last time, it might be Twilight." she laughed. "Seriously, though, if I can just concentrate on racing, the others have no chance."

It was then, Dash shrugged, getting a more serious expression on her face. "I dunno, though. I was actually thinking it might be cool to run with Scootaloo this year. You know... as a bonding thing."

"Eeeyup." Applejack laughed lightly, leaning into Rainbow's side with an affectionate smile. She led the way out of the barn, and pushed the doors closed behind Rainbow, giving a firm buck to knock the crossbar down to hold the doors shut for the day. She quickly moved back up alongside Rainbow, though, walking with her. She raised a brow at the idea about Scootaloo, and immediately felt conflicted. She wanted to be involved, too, now.

Her expression was a bit hard to red, though - save that it was suddenly  a bit conflicted. Still, she nudged into Rainbow, illustrating her sweaty flank. "Let me rinse off, an' we can go hit tha' cafe an' talk about it, ahright?" She suggested to Rainbow, meeting her eyes. She didn't want to be a pain, but she did wanna be there for Scootaloo too. They'd put off the adoption planning, when Rainbow had gone away again.

And, rinsing herself off would give her a chance to cool off from work and collect her thoughts. She didn't want to launch into a discussion while she was all hot and sweaty.  She turned to Wordsmith and Beamer, and Sweetie. "Anyway, Word - Ya'll doin' alright? Ah'm wrappin' up for the afternoon. Rainbow an' I are goin' to drop by Summer Song." She put a hoof to the side, to Rainbow's shoulder, pointing out plainly and bluntly why. She grinned, and turned to Rainbow, nudging her neck against Rainbow's from the side, beaming gently. She then glanced to Sweetie Belle. "Why don't 'ya relax too? Ya' want a snack?" she offered cheerfully, motioning anypony who wanted to follow her back up to the  house proper.

Inside, Granny smith rocked back and forth, eyes shut, resting peacefully. She stirred, though, as Applejack came in. AJ gave her a quick hug. "Hehe, Sorry, Granny! Rainbow's home!" She said cheerfully. "We're plannin' ta' go out to the cafe after ah' clean up."

"Awright dear, ya'll just have a good -"

She was cut off by Apple Bloom, who slid down the banister and trotted over to Sweetie. "Haay~! Ya'll been buckin' apples, right!?"

Applejack laughed. "Ah' see somepony is up from her nap." She teased, and Apple Bloom blushed a little.

"Ah was trainin'  Ah'm runnin' the leaves this year! Ah'm gonna get mah 'Runnin' Cutie Mark!"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:32, Sat 04 July 2015.

Wordsmith sighed as he wrapped the ice-cube filled bandanna around his neck, "Nnnn~" he slumped a little as the coolness spread through his neck and slowly through his body, "I should have remembered this from Colt Scouts." he said to Beamer, "Dad learned this in the military."

He heard Applejack call out to him, he turned and nodded, "Alright Miss Appljack.  If you need me, you know where to find me!" he smiled, "I got to show Beamer around." he explained, chuckling at how cute Applejack looked nuzzling Rainbow Dash.

He lifted a hoof, giving a short salute to the pegasus.  While he was never in the military himself, it just felt... wrong... having been raised around soldiers, to not.  "Hey LT, welcome home."

As the three made their way back to the house, he sighed, rubbing his forehead.  He'd definately need to exercise a little more, getting a headache from moving around was just stupid, if you asked him.

Nodding to Beamer he went over and picked up a saddlebag that was slung over his flank, and a vest that was stuffed into the saddlebag.  He was still obviously too hot.

Pausing for a moment he removed the saddlebag and the bandanna and trundled over to the trough that AJ used, picking up and dumping two buckets of water over himself, "AUUUGHHH~" he shivered, "H-holy Horseapples~"
He did not expect the water to be that cold... but he was glad it was.

Shaking himself off and out, he replaced the saddlebag over his flank as well as replacing the bandanna, "T-that should do til I get a proper shower." he shivered again, "c-come on Beamer.  Let's go."



[EXIT TO:: QUILL & ANVIL TAVERN]

Beamer fell into step behind Wordsmith when a thought occurred to him. "Hey, how do you know my name anyways. I don't think I ever told you."

[Exiting to Quill and Anvil]
This message was last edited by the player at 20:53, Wed 01 July 2015.

Sweetie followed Applejack and Rainbow Dash back up to the barn and tried to stay out of the way as they unloaded the big wagon.  They didn’t want to have to pick up all the apples again.  The filly didn’t miss the obvious affection that was being passed back and forth between the two mares, but she had moved past the “aww” phase of seeing their relationship some time ago.

She still thought they were a perfect couple though…

When Applejack suggested that Sweetie relax too and asked if she wanted a snack, Sweetie snapped back from her daydreaming.

”Oooh… A snack? … I’m *starving*!”  Sweetie bounced as her voice squeaked, and she bounded off toward the farmhouse, springing on all fours with a level of energy that only Pink Party Ponies and excitable young fillies can muster.

Inside the house, Sweetie greeted Apple Bloom with their ”Super Secret Crusader Hoofshake” (patent pending) when the farm filly came sliding down the bannister.  ”Yup!  And I’ve been handling the Lemonade!”  Sweetie stifled a giggle as Applejack mentioned Apple Bloom’s nap, causing her to blush.

Bloom seemed to recover quickly though, as she announced her plans to run in the race and earn a Running Cutie Mark.

Sweetie Belle gasped.

“That’s a *GREAT* Idea!!!”  She put her forehooves square on Apple Bloom’s shoulders.  ”Apple Bloom, you’re a *GENIUS!*”  She let go of Bloom’s shoulders and trotted to the screen door, looking out past the orchard toward the woods.

”If we do well enough to win the Foal’s Division of the Running of the Leaves…. One of us is SURE to get our Cutie Mark!”

Rainbow Dash nodded and smiled to Applejack as she suggested they talk about it. "Alright, Apples, I guess it's been a while since I was away, huh?" she followed the farmpony up to the house and inside. "I had been thinking about it a lot while away... almost as much as I thought about you." she grinned.

Entering the house, she nodded in greeting to Granny Smith and gave a hearty laugh at Applebloom's enthusiasm. She took a seat in the kitchen, with her military blazer on once again. "I bet you just might, Applebloom! You running with the other Crusaders as a group? I... uh... I might be running along with you if that's the case."

Apple Bloom perked up a bit, and gave Rainbow Dash a hug around one leg. "Rainbow Dash! Yer' Back! Mah' Sister's been missin' ya' real bad!"

Applejack blushed a but, scuffing her hooves, and started up the stairs to the upper floor. "Aww, c'mon  Apple Bloom. Ah' ain't been that bad. Rainbow, ah'm gonna get washed up." She announced, though, that green-eyed stare warned her against promising too much to the fillies...

Apple Bloom, meanwhile, rushed off to fetch some apple treats from the kitchen, inviting Sweetie along. That left Granny Smith, already half-asleep again, and Rainbow Dash...

---

Applejack took her time,  but the result was worth the wait. She'd  washed her mane, cleaned her coat up, and even went to the trouble of braiding both her mane and tail. She donned her classic stetson, and descended the steps with a confident smile, nudging up to Rainbow in her fancy uniform. "Ya' ready to go, RD?" She purred in a relaxed tone. She'd clearly missed her, and given the care she'd taken for her appearance, it was clear that this outing had graduated to 'date' status...

As Dash looked at Applejack coming down the stairs again, redness found her cheeks. She looked better than she had ever imagined... and she imagined quite a lot with Applejack! "Wow..." she smiled. "Guess I'd better put my cap back on." she snickered and placed her Wonderbolts Air Force cap back on her head to cover up the messy mane." she stood up from talking to Applebloom and Granny Smith, having mentioned nothing more about the running of the leaves as Applejack's eyes told her.

"Ready to go. See you two later." she nodded in thanks for the snack and left with Applejack.


To Summer Song Cafe -->

Apple Bloom perked up at Rainbow's brief implication that they'd be running together, but she seemed to forget it by the time she'd gotten the snacks together. Sitting with Sweetie Belle, she said. "Maybe we should go get Scootaloo and start trainin'?"

---

Applejack ---> Summer Song Cafe
This message was last edited by the player at 23:33, Sat 04 July 2015.