downtoearthpony | 01 Apple Pie

[Dawn has passed on Brady Lane, but only by an hour or so when sunlight has reached the newly appeared doghouse in 337's backyard. The doghouse contains an orange colored pony with a yellow mane, quietly snoring, as if unaware what awaits her when she wakes up. Which is actually the minute the sunlight hits her face. She's use to getting up when the rooster crows, after all. Of course when she finishes yawning and rubbing her eyes with her hooves, she's a little shock to see the unfamiliar surroundings.]

What in tarnation? I don't remember falling asleep in the barn last night... Wait, this isn't mah barn. Where in Equestria is this?

[Applejack steps out of the doghouse and looks around to see a strange and unfamiliar landscape around her. She's looking over everything, which isn't actually much what with the backyard fence blocking her view.]

Well, it's definitely not Ponyville... Or any place Ah've seen before. What's with the door there? Doesn't look like it's made for a pony.

[She's referring to the back door of the house of course, and she makes her way to it when she suddenly is jerked to a stop by the rope that has her tied to the dog house.]

Erk! Now who did this? Is this some prank of Dash's and Pinkie Pie's? Hmph, Ah'll be sure to give them a piece of mah mind if it is.

[She walks over to the doghouse and uses her teeth to untie herself from it. She can't really get to the part looped around her neck at the moment, but she'll worry about that later. Now is the time to get some answers. Which is why she walks up to the door with a determined look and knocks on it loudly with her hoof.]

HELLO?! ANYPONY IN THERE?! Y'ALL NEED TO COME OUT HERE AND EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!

[She pauses and seems to glance up, as if noticing something for the first time before knocking again.]

AND YOU NEED TO GIVE ME BACK MAH HAT IF YOU HAVE IT, TOO!!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh ponyfeathers, Ah don't... And Ah doubt Dash has one either, though Ah guess Ah shouldn't really just assume that. Do you know someone who will lend us one?

"Currently I don't, and I haven't gotten any monitoring equipment like that from home."

Well, we don't really need much fancy monitoring equipment at the moment to take a picture of a bird's eye view of the town, just a camera... Maybe if we ask around we could find one.

"Maybe. Still, something digital would be better than a simple black and white."

Well, maybe we will find one of those digeetolls when we ask around! And even if we don't, if we find some kind of camera, then at least we can maybe get a picture from an angle you haven't seen yet, right?

"Hrm.. That is true. Sometimes I have a hard time thinking in low tech solutions. I wonder if they have cameras for sale."

Ah'm sure there's someplace around here that sales one. Ah can help earn some money for it too if y'all don't have enough on your own!

"No. I never really spend any of the money I make at work."

A little filly like you works? Ah don't know if Ah should be impressed of how responsible you are or worried about who would put you to work...

"I've been working since I was 10. If you want to be very technical I've been working since I was 6, but that was just sync tests and preparations."

Since 6?! Are you counting schooling as work, 'cause Ah don't know many fillies who work so young unless they or their families are in some dire straits.

"No, I finished schooling with the equivalent of a masters in computer science at the age of four. Though, I was working on my doctorate before I came here."

Well landsakes, you're a smart one! How were you pulling all that off while you were younger? Most young'uns I know get antsy if they can't time to play with their friends.

"I didn't have any friends. There were other students in the academy, but we just studied."

Well... Ah kinda know some folks like that...

[Specifically a purple unicorn who lives in Ponyville's library.]

But what getting out to play and exercise? Being responsible and intelligent is great and all, but Ah'd hate to hear you are at the cost of your childhood...

"There were some exercise times but... The researchers at the institute didn't think that was important. I never really had a childhood in the conventional sense."

[Applejack kinda looks shocked and sad at the same time after hearing that.]

Ah guess you were used to it, then? But didn't your parents say anything about it?

"I didn't meet my parents till I was 12."

[Again Applejack is surprised and sad about this, but also seems to get angry afterwards.]

And those researchers looking after you just felt it was alright to just have you study and such your entire childhood?

"Yes."

Hmph, well, Ah'm glad you seemed to handle it well and all, but if those research fellas or anyone else start trying to tell you what to do again, you ignore them. You sound way too smart not to know what to do yourself.

And if they won't leave you alone, you let me know so Ah can have a 'word' with them, alright?

"I slapped one when I was.... 12? I haven't seen any of them since. Not since Prospector told them I was defective and let me have a real family."

Well good on you! Though Ah guess your family isn't here with ya now, are they?

"They're dead."

[She shrugs]

Oh, sugarcube, Ah'm so sorry to hear that!

Look, Ah know you look like you have it all together and handling it well, but if you ever need anything, or even just someone to talk to, don't hesitate to come see me, alright?