Sunday, October 30, 2011

Apple Branches: Bitter Apple


The oldest two Apple siblings waited beside the Ponyville train station for their cousin Braeburn’s train to arrive. The entire building and route was new; with Celestia’s sudden glut of visits thanks to her protégé’s new home had come a swelling of tourists eager to discover what in Ponyville interested the Princess so much.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Apple Branches: Cooking Apples


Knock knock knock.
“I’m on m’ way,” Applejack called as she looked at the mess of the kitchen. Pie plates, corn husks, and small stacks of hay only made up the least of it. Sighing, she turned her back on the shambled state of the room and made her way to the door.
All this, an’ Big Macintosh’s sick. Today, of all days!

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Apple Branches Character Study: Caramel

A few of you have probably figured it out by now, but my version of Caramel is not exactly emotionally healthy. I'd like to explain why now.

Mostly, it relates back to his "special talent", if it could really be called that: he's unlucky. Really unlucky. To be honest, about the only "good" thing that's happened to him in his life recently is Big Macintosh showing an interest in him.

His job is not something he particularly likes; he takes a good deal of satisfaction from doing it well, but to him it's a job, not a calling. Everything around him will break or be damaged somehow, and often it's because of his own actions. If there's anything that can  go wrong in his life, it will. Murphy's Law isn't something that he uses to shrug off a minor mishap, it's the principle that guides his life.

And he has a sister, who's the polar opposite. She knows what consequences are; they're just never bad ones. Caramel's parents, love him as they did... well... you have two children, one who literally can do no wrong, and the other who could step outside and cause a forty pony pileup. Whether you try to fight it or not, that will start to wear on you.

Caramel's sister has had nothing really denied to her, ever. She's had her cake and eaten it too, for her entire life, and the end result is a filly who really doesn't see other ponies as ponies, just moving backdrop that gives her things. It's telling that she only gets angry when her brother has something she doesn't, and it's something that she can't seem to have. I didn't intend to write her as such a heartless character at first, but after some thought with how her upbringing would have made her, it was inevitable.

I admit, though, I wasn't expecting the final result to be an evil version of Rarity.

Caramel, on the other hand... his life is a never-ending parade of stuff going wrong. He's used to it. It's what happens to him. And he just bows his head and keeps on trudging along, because that's what he does. It's more of a shock to him when something goes his way, because that never happens. He's so used to the worst possible situation developing that it's what he's always bracing himself for, and should it not happen, he literally does not know how to react. He's also extremely passive about it; his life sucks, he's used to it, but since there's no way to change it as far as he knows, why bother?

And yes, he is sabotaging his relationship with Mac, intentionally or otherwise.

Apple Branches: Desert Apple

Big Macintosh looked up at his sister from his breakfast. “Ah’m not sure Ah’m hearin’ you right,” he began around his mouthful. Swallowing, he picked up the thread of conversation. “Y’ want me t’ go t’ Appleloosa?”
Applejack’s smile was a bit forced around the edges. “I do!”

Monday, July 25, 2011

Apple Branches: Striped Apple

Rainbow Dash kicked at one of the apple trees, halfheartedly. To absolutely nopony’s surprise, nothing happened - partially because she put no effort into the blow, but mostly because there were no apples left to harvest. 
Satisfied by her minor act of frustration, she went back to ploddingly walking over every hill to see if she could find anything else that might have been left out.
“Ugh, this would go so much faster if you let me fly...” she complained.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Apple Branches: Caramel Covered Apple

The third part to the Apple Branches story. Caramel's had his heart broken, and it's time for the aftermath of it all.

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Caramel Covered Apple
 

Big Macintosh took his time getting back to Sweet Apple Acres, mostly in an effort to avoid the older of his two sisters.

Apple Branches: Apple Slices

Part two of the Apple Branches series. Mac's given Caramel an answer, but how will it turn out?

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Apple Slices

Big Macintosh leaned against the gate to Sweet Apple Acres, scratching his flank with the posts as he waited.

Apple Branches: Caramel and Apples

This is my 'fic shipping Caramel and Big Macintosh, and eventually other ponies as well. This is only the first of an ongoing series, so check back every once in a while. Maybe something new will be up.

Also, I have no idea how to work this blog, so... there will be fumbles. For example, I have no idea how to do the equvalent of a LiveJournal cut. Yes, I checked the help files. No, it did not seem to help.

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 Caramel and Apples

Caramel closed his eyes and slumped against the nearest tree. Though he’d spent an entire afternoon out on Sweet Apple Acres helping to harvest the crop, there was barely a dent in the small section he’d been told was his responsibility as an apple bucker.