Post by Applejack on Dec 29, 2014 22:05:18 GMT -5
"Um." Little hoof-booties, a soft, plush coat, and a long checkered scarf that she makes sure isn't stuck int he gate behind her. Fluttershy goes down the list with a smile. "And of course, I couldn't forget this." She clutches the little book tightly to her chest. It still smells a little like moondrops. "I'll be back soon, everypony!" Flutters turns and clip-clops off down the shoveled path, heading for the outline of trees against the near horizon.
Applejack happens to be coming up the path to Fluttershy's cozy little cottage at that moment, checking a list of her own, which is why she very nearly bumps right into Fluttershy! But AJ swerves at the last moment - and pumps her hooves fast as they all try to go out from under her on the icy surface. "Whoa whoa WHOA NELLY!" - but mananges to get herself under control after a moment. "Phew. Howdy, Fluttershy! Ah was just comin' ta see y'all!"
"Eep!" Fluttershy rears up and wheels her forelegs! It's a miracle AJ doesn't get clobbered. "H-hi, Applejack. I'm sorry, I just wasn't expecting to see anypony else out this far today."
Applejack grins. "No harm done, sugarcube! Ah'm takin' a few treats around ta mah friends, just 'cause it's th' season. Here's yers!" AJ digs for a moment in her saddlebags - spitting her green scarf out of the way at one point - and shortly comes up with a plate of cookies that she holds out to Fluttershy in her teeth. The cookies are completely covered in roasted sesame seeds, so it is hard to see what they are, but there is a strong scent of oatmeal and (of couse) apple.
Fluttershy flutterblinks. A smile slowly crosses her face. "Um...t-thank you very much, Applejack. Really. I, um...did you make these yourself?"
Applejack grins. "Yup! Oatmeal apple no-suprise-a'tall cookies. Made 'em heavy on th' seeds 'cause Ah reckoned y'all might wanna share 'em with th' critters." She falls in step next to Fluttershy. "Ah got some more deliveries ta make. Where are y'all off to, if'n ya don't mind mah askin'?"
"Well," Fluttershy trots along, smiling at Applejack, and tucks the cookies into her quilted bag. "It's funny that we should run into each other, because I was kind of on my way over to Sweet Apple Acres."
Applejack says "Ain't that funny? We're always glad ta see ya! Anythin' Ah can help with?"
Fluttershy slows her pace just a bit so he can hold up the book for Applejack to see. "Remember what I got from Princess Luna? It has the languages of all kinds of creatures that I was never really able to speak to before! Like...the fruit bats, a-and the fire sprite..."
Applejack blinks. "Does it now? That sounds real handy! Ah didn't know that kinda thing could even go in a book... What's that got ta do with us, though? Oh! Were y'all gonna visit th' vampire fruitbats?"
"And the ferrous ferrets, and the giga gophers, and the winter sprites, and all the other creatures that live around the orchard!" Fluttershy pages through the book page by page. She frowns, pausing. "Um...I can't quite figure this one out, though..." The page she stopped on is more of a magical diagram than a language lesson. The drawing on it is definitely a timberwolf.
Applejack looks, and her ears slowly droop. "Y'all... wanna go talk to a TIMBERWOLF? Honey, don't take this th' wrong way, but are y'all outta yer cotton-pickin' mind?! Them things are deadly - dang near killed us all!" She pauses and gives Fluttershy a shrewd look. "Y'all got somethin' partic'lar in mind?"
"Oh! N-no, no no no." Fluttershy shakes her head vigorously, sending long waves down her mane. "I just don't really understand. I mean, not that I've really had a chance to try, but I don't think tiberwolves respond to me like a normal animal would."
"I just wanted to go see the bats."
Sweet Apple Acres is not that far from Fluttershy's cottage, and by now the strolling ponies have reached the gate. "Well... Ah got a notion they ain't really animals. Not like reg'lar ones, more like... remember how Discord used ta make stuff come ta life with magic? Like that, Ah reckon. 'Cause when they 'die', they don't keel over an' stop breathin' like most things, they fall apart inta bits an' pieces." Applejack pushes the gate open and holds it for Fluttershy. "Ah ain't no fan o' th' vampire fruit bats, but they're reg'lar animals, sure as shootin'."
"I think you're right. Timberwolves aren't really animals, a-and they aren't like ponies, poor things. But...thank you, AJ." Flutters follows the apples. "But I think we can come to an understanding with the fruit bats now better than ever!" And all those other weird things Fluttershy said. Ferrous ferrets? What?
Applejack knows nothing of iron weasels or fifty-foot woodchucks. She's generally all about plants, especially if they grow fruit, especially especially if those fruits are apples. She leads the way to the half-acre or so of apple trees that were fenced in for the vampire fruitbats. "Worth a try, Ah s'pose. Gotta admit, y'all were right 'bout these varmints. They ain't been TOO much trouble since we put 'em in there. What's t'understand, though?" The reservation trees are bare of leaves and fruit, just like every other apple tree in midwinter, but there are tightly-huddled bat shapes dangling from quite a few of these, which do not stir at the ponies' approach. "Maybe they're gone ta sleep fer th' winter. Uh, do vampire fruitbats DO that?"
Fluttershy looks up with her mouth open slightly in wonder. "I, uh...I'm not actually sure. Vampire fruit bats are *very* rare, and even I've only managed to learn part of their language in the time they've been here." She pages through the book again. "Maybe I shouldn't wake them up just yet...oh, do you think they talk in their sleep?"
Applejack gives Fluttershy a skeptical look. "Wouldn't rightly know. Long's they kept outta mah way, Ah've mostly been leavin' 'em alone. Ain't really had a lotta time fer listenin' ta sleepin' vermin. Uh, Ah mean, 'critters'. Aheh."
"Well, I'm really thankful that you gave them a place to call home, Applejack. The truth is, I-I think they'll probably move in and out as the season changes more. Vampire fruit bats can't live without...fruit." Fluttershy flitters up to inspect one a little closer. She scratches its chin. "Isn't that right?"
Applejack shrugs. "Well, they got all th' fruit we can afford ta spare 'em *in* there. If'n that ain't enough, they might have ta go, but we *can't* let 'em forage in th' orchard! We work hard ta grow these crops, an' we need 'em ta survive." AJ looks around a bit and sniffs the icy winter air. "Think 'bout it. What if yer bats had ruined th' crop? If'n we couldn't pay our bills an' buy supplies? Ah don't care so much 'bout mahself, but what 'bout Granny or Apple Bloom?" She looks up at the bats again. "Ain't just me Ah gotta worry 'bout."
Fluttershy lets herself coast back to the ground. "Well, that's why I've been working as hard as I can to learn to speak with them. I know they can't stay in the sanctuary forever..."
Applejack lifts her head and nods slowly, comprehension dawning. "Ahhhhhh, Ah get it! That's plumb smart o' y'all, Flutters! Yer welcome here anytime ta see if'n ya can talk ta them. Not that that changes anythin', o'course, y'all're welcome here anytime anyway." AJ flashes a huge grin and goes to give Fluttershy a solid Kicks-and-Bucky hipcheck, but remembers who she's dealing with at the last second and makes it a gentle bump instead.
Fluttershy smiles softly. "Well, I know the widdwe baby batties will have to leave the nest eventually - eep!" She gladly returns the hip-bump, with a small but sincere grin. "So I thought that I should try to make it gentle for everypony. I mean...I-I think I understand bats better than anypony."
"...not to brag."
"Sorry."
Applejack winks at the yellow pony. "Ain't braggin' when yer just sayin' what ya can do, sugar. Ah reckon yer right! Ain't never heard o' nopony put in th' *effort* t'understand 'em like y'all did." She shivers for a moment. "Brr. Listen, if'n y'all are done here, why don't we pop inside before we head out again? Ah'll heat us up some mulled cider, warm our bones fer th' walk, what do ya say?"
Fluttershy's smile gets even warmer. "That sounds wonderful, Applejack." Flutters' stomach growls a little. It sounds like a tiny, tiny wood mouse. "And...m-maybe we could have some of your cookies, too."
Applejack laughs. "Ha, nah! Y'all take them home. If'n yer peckish Ah got plenty o' vittles inside. Lessee, what did we have... We got, uh, leftover roasted corn loaf an' taters with cheese if'n ya want somethin' savory, or all *kindsa* baked goods, Granny an' Ah spent th' day makin' treats. C'mon!" With that, AJ starts leading the way back to the farmhouse at a brisk trot.
"Coming!" Fluttershy follows the bouncing apple again, tucking her book back into her saddlebag. She raises a wing to wave at the bats as she trots away. "You behave yourselves, sweeties, okay?" And then she trots along toward the glow and the smell of cider.
As the door closes behind the two ponies, admitting them into the warm cinnamonny farmhouse kitchen, there is a stirring in the branches of the vampire fruitbats' trees. Woken from their sleep, a few stir and chatter squeakily before wrapping up again to resume their winter rest. "ft?" "ft!" "wrk?" "rsh." "neh." "yh!" ... "wh?" "ftrshi." "ftrshi!" "ftrshi." Then, in a few moments more, all is still again.
Applejack happens to be coming up the path to Fluttershy's cozy little cottage at that moment, checking a list of her own, which is why she very nearly bumps right into Fluttershy! But AJ swerves at the last moment - and pumps her hooves fast as they all try to go out from under her on the icy surface. "Whoa whoa WHOA NELLY!" - but mananges to get herself under control after a moment. "Phew. Howdy, Fluttershy! Ah was just comin' ta see y'all!"
"Eep!" Fluttershy rears up and wheels her forelegs! It's a miracle AJ doesn't get clobbered. "H-hi, Applejack. I'm sorry, I just wasn't expecting to see anypony else out this far today."
Applejack grins. "No harm done, sugarcube! Ah'm takin' a few treats around ta mah friends, just 'cause it's th' season. Here's yers!" AJ digs for a moment in her saddlebags - spitting her green scarf out of the way at one point - and shortly comes up with a plate of cookies that she holds out to Fluttershy in her teeth. The cookies are completely covered in roasted sesame seeds, so it is hard to see what they are, but there is a strong scent of oatmeal and (of couse) apple.
Fluttershy flutterblinks. A smile slowly crosses her face. "Um...t-thank you very much, Applejack. Really. I, um...did you make these yourself?"
Applejack grins. "Yup! Oatmeal apple no-suprise-a'tall cookies. Made 'em heavy on th' seeds 'cause Ah reckoned y'all might wanna share 'em with th' critters." She falls in step next to Fluttershy. "Ah got some more deliveries ta make. Where are y'all off to, if'n ya don't mind mah askin'?"
"Well," Fluttershy trots along, smiling at Applejack, and tucks the cookies into her quilted bag. "It's funny that we should run into each other, because I was kind of on my way over to Sweet Apple Acres."
Applejack says "Ain't that funny? We're always glad ta see ya! Anythin' Ah can help with?"
Fluttershy slows her pace just a bit so he can hold up the book for Applejack to see. "Remember what I got from Princess Luna? It has the languages of all kinds of creatures that I was never really able to speak to before! Like...the fruit bats, a-and the fire sprite..."
Applejack blinks. "Does it now? That sounds real handy! Ah didn't know that kinda thing could even go in a book... What's that got ta do with us, though? Oh! Were y'all gonna visit th' vampire fruitbats?"
"And the ferrous ferrets, and the giga gophers, and the winter sprites, and all the other creatures that live around the orchard!" Fluttershy pages through the book page by page. She frowns, pausing. "Um...I can't quite figure this one out, though..." The page she stopped on is more of a magical diagram than a language lesson. The drawing on it is definitely a timberwolf.
Applejack looks, and her ears slowly droop. "Y'all... wanna go talk to a TIMBERWOLF? Honey, don't take this th' wrong way, but are y'all outta yer cotton-pickin' mind?! Them things are deadly - dang near killed us all!" She pauses and gives Fluttershy a shrewd look. "Y'all got somethin' partic'lar in mind?"
"Oh! N-no, no no no." Fluttershy shakes her head vigorously, sending long waves down her mane. "I just don't really understand. I mean, not that I've really had a chance to try, but I don't think tiberwolves respond to me like a normal animal would."
"I just wanted to go see the bats."
Sweet Apple Acres is not that far from Fluttershy's cottage, and by now the strolling ponies have reached the gate. "Well... Ah got a notion they ain't really animals. Not like reg'lar ones, more like... remember how Discord used ta make stuff come ta life with magic? Like that, Ah reckon. 'Cause when they 'die', they don't keel over an' stop breathin' like most things, they fall apart inta bits an' pieces." Applejack pushes the gate open and holds it for Fluttershy. "Ah ain't no fan o' th' vampire fruit bats, but they're reg'lar animals, sure as shootin'."
"I think you're right. Timberwolves aren't really animals, a-and they aren't like ponies, poor things. But...thank you, AJ." Flutters follows the apples. "But I think we can come to an understanding with the fruit bats now better than ever!" And all those other weird things Fluttershy said. Ferrous ferrets? What?
Applejack knows nothing of iron weasels or fifty-foot woodchucks. She's generally all about plants, especially if they grow fruit, especially especially if those fruits are apples. She leads the way to the half-acre or so of apple trees that were fenced in for the vampire fruitbats. "Worth a try, Ah s'pose. Gotta admit, y'all were right 'bout these varmints. They ain't been TOO much trouble since we put 'em in there. What's t'understand, though?" The reservation trees are bare of leaves and fruit, just like every other apple tree in midwinter, but there are tightly-huddled bat shapes dangling from quite a few of these, which do not stir at the ponies' approach. "Maybe they're gone ta sleep fer th' winter. Uh, do vampire fruitbats DO that?"
Fluttershy looks up with her mouth open slightly in wonder. "I, uh...I'm not actually sure. Vampire fruit bats are *very* rare, and even I've only managed to learn part of their language in the time they've been here." She pages through the book again. "Maybe I shouldn't wake them up just yet...oh, do you think they talk in their sleep?"
Applejack gives Fluttershy a skeptical look. "Wouldn't rightly know. Long's they kept outta mah way, Ah've mostly been leavin' 'em alone. Ain't really had a lotta time fer listenin' ta sleepin' vermin. Uh, Ah mean, 'critters'. Aheh."
"Well, I'm really thankful that you gave them a place to call home, Applejack. The truth is, I-I think they'll probably move in and out as the season changes more. Vampire fruit bats can't live without...fruit." Fluttershy flitters up to inspect one a little closer. She scratches its chin. "Isn't that right?"
Applejack shrugs. "Well, they got all th' fruit we can afford ta spare 'em *in* there. If'n that ain't enough, they might have ta go, but we *can't* let 'em forage in th' orchard! We work hard ta grow these crops, an' we need 'em ta survive." AJ looks around a bit and sniffs the icy winter air. "Think 'bout it. What if yer bats had ruined th' crop? If'n we couldn't pay our bills an' buy supplies? Ah don't care so much 'bout mahself, but what 'bout Granny or Apple Bloom?" She looks up at the bats again. "Ain't just me Ah gotta worry 'bout."
Fluttershy lets herself coast back to the ground. "Well, that's why I've been working as hard as I can to learn to speak with them. I know they can't stay in the sanctuary forever..."
Applejack lifts her head and nods slowly, comprehension dawning. "Ahhhhhh, Ah get it! That's plumb smart o' y'all, Flutters! Yer welcome here anytime ta see if'n ya can talk ta them. Not that that changes anythin', o'course, y'all're welcome here anytime anyway." AJ flashes a huge grin and goes to give Fluttershy a solid Kicks-and-Bucky hipcheck, but remembers who she's dealing with at the last second and makes it a gentle bump instead.
Fluttershy smiles softly. "Well, I know the widdwe baby batties will have to leave the nest eventually - eep!" She gladly returns the hip-bump, with a small but sincere grin. "So I thought that I should try to make it gentle for everypony. I mean...I-I think I understand bats better than anypony."
"...not to brag."
"Sorry."
Applejack winks at the yellow pony. "Ain't braggin' when yer just sayin' what ya can do, sugar. Ah reckon yer right! Ain't never heard o' nopony put in th' *effort* t'understand 'em like y'all did." She shivers for a moment. "Brr. Listen, if'n y'all are done here, why don't we pop inside before we head out again? Ah'll heat us up some mulled cider, warm our bones fer th' walk, what do ya say?"
Fluttershy's smile gets even warmer. "That sounds wonderful, Applejack." Flutters' stomach growls a little. It sounds like a tiny, tiny wood mouse. "And...m-maybe we could have some of your cookies, too."
Applejack laughs. "Ha, nah! Y'all take them home. If'n yer peckish Ah got plenty o' vittles inside. Lessee, what did we have... We got, uh, leftover roasted corn loaf an' taters with cheese if'n ya want somethin' savory, or all *kindsa* baked goods, Granny an' Ah spent th' day makin' treats. C'mon!" With that, AJ starts leading the way back to the farmhouse at a brisk trot.
"Coming!" Fluttershy follows the bouncing apple again, tucking her book back into her saddlebag. She raises a wing to wave at the bats as she trots away. "You behave yourselves, sweeties, okay?" And then she trots along toward the glow and the smell of cider.
As the door closes behind the two ponies, admitting them into the warm cinnamonny farmhouse kitchen, there is a stirring in the branches of the vampire fruitbats' trees. Woken from their sleep, a few stir and chatter squeakily before wrapping up again to resume their winter rest. "ft?" "ft!" "wrk?" "rsh." "neh." "yh!" ... "wh?" "ftrshi." "ftrshi!" "ftrshi." Then, in a few moments more, all is still again.