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Post by The Storyteller on Sept 24, 2011 8:58:30 GMT -5
Something is amiss at Sweet Apple Acres. As the fall Harvest begins to creep in, the apple orchards should be literally full to bursting with fresh, juicy apples, but the local farmers are bewildered at a new, strange plague that has started festering within their crops. Whole apple trees have withered and died, some parts of the numerous groves completely succumbing to this sudden pestilence.
No droves of insects or natural occurrences have caused this widespread rot, leaving the Apple family absolutely stumped. In their time of need, they've been desperate enough to recruit anypony who is willing to help root out the source of this corruption.
This tale begins mid-morning after Applejack and Big Macintosh have scoured Ponyville looking for assistance. The latter now waits diligently at the Sweet Apple Acres farm, hoping their request has not fallen on deaf ears...
[ Special Rules ]
- Mane cast and OCs are allowed for this encounter. The limit for characters in this thread is 6. This is on a first come, first serve basis, and you are only allowed to post ONE of your characters per person, not account.
- Big Macintosh will be temporarily played by the Storyteller for the beginning of this thread.
- It is preferable that ponies with some agricultural knowledge jump into this thread, but anypony is welcome as long as they are willing to help.
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Post by Cloud Dreamer on Sept 24, 2011 9:29:45 GMT -5
As soon as Cloudy had heard the troubles going on at Sweet Apple Acers, she had galloped all the way over there. She knew nothing about plants, nothing about diseases, really nothing about anything that would be useful, but she had to help. This was a lot of Ponyville's food source, and especially their apple source. All of Ponyville needed Sweet Apple Acres.
Cloudy entered, noticing Big Macintosh. "I'm... here!" She said, so out of breath. "I... am ready.... to help!" Every time she paused she panted, feeling like she would collaps, but she was happy to be there. Getting her breath back she said, "What should I do first?"
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Post by Sagebrush on Sept 26, 2011 16:13:22 GMT -5
Truth be told, Sage hardly ever visited Ponyville. More often than not, he kept to the outskirts unless he had absolute NEED of an herbal ingredient that he couldn't find with his own four hooves out in the wilderness on his own. But sometimes his travels brought him within the vicinity of the idyllic town, as it had in recent days. While he'd never actually gone within the town's borders, passers by on the roads had been talking about a strange plague that had apparently effected the crops of Sweet Apple Acres. He knew of the farm and its tenders, though he'd never actually toched a hoof inside its perimeters.
But he found his curiosity, on this day, got the better of him. He might not know a whole lot about the cultivation of larger plants, but he simply had to see if there was a solution he could provide, if any. And so he found himself walking under the arbor into Sweet Apple Acres. A distressed looking plowpony with a crimson pelt seemed to be herding in the newcomers, so he made his way to the stallion, hoping to hear the full story.
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Sept 26, 2011 16:14:49 GMT -5
Twilight heard from several other ponies in Ponyville about something strange happening to the crops at Sweet Apple Acres. Not only was Ponyville's largest farm in danger, but her friend Applejack's home and livlihood were being hurt. Sure, she didn't know much about farming, but hopefully she could lend her magic to help fix things. "I'm here. I was just studying as many books as I could about farming before I came here. What happened, Big Macintosh?"
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Post by Summer Wind on Sept 26, 2011 20:01:11 GMT -5
Summer Wind had been enjoying a late breakfast at one of his favorite eateries when he had overheard some other ponies talking about the problems down at Sweet Apple Acres. Since he had the day off anyway, he decided he would go down and lend a hoof. He didn't know much about plants, but he figured he could at least gather up some clouds if they needed some rain.
Today would have been perfect for a nice leisurely flight around town, Summer Wind thought to himself while winging his way toward the orchard. But, it sounded pretty bad out there, so that can wait. Besides, if Sweet Apple Acres closes down where am I going to get my apple fritters, or caramel apples, or apple pies, or... He gave his head a shake to clear his thoughts. Think about snacks later.
Drawing close to the orchard now, Summer Wind spotted a small group of ponies that had already gathered and veered toward them. Folding up his wings as his hooves touched down on the road, he trotted up to the rear of the group and waited to hear more about what was going on.
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Post by The Storyteller on Sept 27, 2011 19:58:12 GMT -5
Truth be told, Big McIntosh hadn't expected much of a turnout. Most of the agriculturally gifted ponies worked here, on the farm, and if they were stumped he wasn't exactly sure who could help unearth the origin of their rampant epidemic. However, Ponyville was full of helpful folks, and he wagered one or two might show up. As kind as they were though, the work pony didn't think anything short of a miracle would help save this year's harvest.
The red stallion was caught up in inventory as the ponies started to trickle in, silently murmuring to himself as he counted through an assortment of tools splayed out near a table next to the barn. There wasn't much to catalog really, but he didn't like to sit idle, and this was better than loafing about, twiddling his hooves...if that was possible. Even when Cloud Dreamer trudged up in an exhausted huff he continued to rifle through the farm equipment with anticipated casualness, only turning about slowly to regard the filly and the coming group behind her when he was finished.
Never a big rush for Big Mac, even in the face of all this chaos.
Though his passive expression didn't flaunt it, he was surprised at the turn-out, particularly Twilight's appearance. Not exactly the most savvy filly when it came to tilling the soil, but he supposed a little magic know-how might be what they needed.
His gaze lilted from the two unicorns, to the peculiar earth pony, and then over toward the quiet pegasus in the back. Big Mac tongued that trademark hay stalk from one side of his muzzle to the other, then smoothly drawled, " This all of you? Mighty fine of you ponies t'lend a hoof."
There was a distinct, somewhat awkward pause. He wasn't exactly the best when it came to abrupt conversation. " Well, ah don't see no reason to dawdle. Guessin' y'all saw the flier; if'n y'don't know who ah am, Ah'm Big McIntosh, or-ah, Big Mac, ah suppose. We've got a heck of a problem to deal with here on th'farm." His lethargic gaze hovered over the orchards clearly visible on the distant hills, looking a shade duller than they were naturally supposed to be. " Apple trees shrivelin' up and wastin' away like nopony's business, can't rightly figure out why."
He looked back towards the gathering of ponies, a suddenly lifted brow exposing his first real means of expression since they all got here. " Ah recognize a couple of ya': Miss Twilight 'n Miss Dreamer, respectively; can't say ah recognize you boys, though." The stallion upnodded towards Sagebrush and Summer Wind.
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Post by Cloud Dreamer on Sept 27, 2011 21:47:00 GMT -5
Cloudy was happy she arrived first. It showed she was really there to help, not just happened to stumble upon the place. She was surprised only three other ponies arrived, and was happy one of them was Twilight. At least she sort of knew one of them.
But this whole rot was so weird. How could suddenly the whole crop become diseased? Wouldn't it take a few days for it to spread? She knew very little about diseases but she did know they didn't take place instantaniously, they took a little to be able to take over something and make it sick and die. It might be a couple days, but it wasn't just overnight. At least, she thought so.
She blushed slightly as Big Mac said her name, because she had told him to call her Cloudy. She had visited the farm many times, she liked her apples and apple treats to come straight from the farm. She knew Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Big Mac. "Please Big Mac, I like to be called Cloudy. Miss Dreamer isn't needed. But I'm happy to help. What should I do first?"
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Post by Summer Wind on Sept 28, 2011 0:53:13 GMT -5
"Summer Wind," he spoke up, returning Big Mac's nod. "I've seen you working your farm a few times when my duties in the weather team have brought me over this way, but I don't think we've ever spoken."
Truth be told, despite living in Ponyville for a little more than a year now, he hadn't spoken to very many other ponies. Most of his interactions came from the various shopkeepers.
"Anyway," Summer Wind continued, "I don't know much about taking care of plants, but I'll do what I can."
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Sept 28, 2011 7:33:11 GMT -5
Twilight immediately thought about the first thing that could cause crops to die: the weather. She realized that that was not the case as the weather ponies keep the weather as regulated as possible, giving periods of sun and periods of rain."So something is causing all the apple trees to die, and you don't know what happened. When did you first see this happen, Big Mac?"
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Post by Sagebrush on Sept 28, 2011 11:27:04 GMT -5
Sage nodded at the kindly pony, who'd given himself the title of Bic Mac. While he wasn't usually one to give out his name freely to those he didn't know well, custom was to share a title when one was shared with you. "I am Sagebrush." he replied with a nod of his rust-colored head. He listened to the rest of the story and took in the strangers around him, inwardly smiling at all the ponies so willing to lend a hoof. It reminded him once more that there was a lot of good in the world.
As for him, he almost instantly ruled out the weather as the cause. These good ponies were farmers, if anyone would've known about the weather and what it did to crops, it would've been them. Chances are they'd ruled that out themselves or else they wouldn't be asking for assistance. He glanced at Big Mac with stern eyes and queried quite simply and bluntly, "May I see the trees?" Sometimes the earth spoke better for itself than the ponies who tended it. He'd hoped, perhaps, he could gain some insight from the ailing plants.
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Post by The Storyteller on Sept 29, 2011 6:36:29 GMT -5
The large workpony chortled languidly at Cloud Dreamer's abundant enthusiasm. " Now, t'wouldn't be proper to call ya' anything less, ma'am. Let's say we can compromise and Ah'll call ya' Miss Cloudy; reckon that'd work, wouldn't y'say?"
That train of thought was nudged aside as the two new stallions addressed him, learning names and gaining some pretense of familiarity with the newcomers. The pegasus seemed well-meaning, honest at the very least, and that was usually something Big Mac could appreciate more than a simple act of labor. The earth pony with the interesting garb was a bit more enigmatic, perhaps even business-like, despite his native appearance. It seemed like he had a trustworthy knowledge of plants though, and that was good enough for him.
" Well, s'a pleasure to make your acquaintance Summer Wind 'n Sagebrush. Like Ah said: we certainly appreciate the help y'all are offering. Follow me and Ah'll let ya' take a gander at what's been goin' on. " The stallion's cardinal pelt shifted over a taut array of muscle as he turned, the yoke around his neck shifting with the movement of his frame. As he led the group along the dirt laden path that serpentined towards the closest orchard, he addressed Twilight's question.
" Happened 'bout a week ago, Miss Twilight, " Big Mac recollected, chewing on his hay stalk thoughtfully a moment. " Everything was fine 'n dandy, typical output of crops we get this close to Harvest, then it just..." He shrugged his thick shoulders. "...happened. Strangest thing Ah've ever seen just about; completely outta left field. "
After about five minutes of walking, they had arrived. Big Mac was true to his word: the trees looked as if they were on the verge of death. The bark was a discolored green, sickly and lathered in a film of alien fungus that couldn't possibly be construed as moss or harmless mushrooms. The leaves themselves were crinkled and browning at the edges, their respective branches just barely able to support the weight of those once juicy apples, now pitted with bruises and rot. Many of the apples had already fallen onto the grass below, festering remains of degraded fruit that were now home to insects of all kinds.
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Post by Cloud Dreamer on Sept 29, 2011 17:00:12 GMT -5
"That would be fine Big Mac." Cloudy replied, smiling. She watched as the earth pony introduced himself to the others.She wanted to introduce herself to Twilight, but felt it wasn't a good time while Big Mac was talking to everypony.
She listened as Big Mac explained everything to Twilight. Just happened? Cloudy wanted to see how bad these plants are. Whatever it was she hoped it wasn't too bad, for the sake of Ponyville.
As Big Mac led them to the apple trees Cloudy casually slowed her pase until she was beside Twilight. "Hi Twilight!" The unicorn greeted. "Sure sounds pretty weird huh? I don't think Sweet Apple Acers has had as big of problems with diseases before. Not that I can remember of."
When she got to the plants she saw exactly what Big Mac was talking about. The sight made her want to puke. The unicorn gagged a little as she looked the trees over, immediatly noticing the filmy growth. "Big Mac, I'm no farmer or plant doctor but whatever that weird moss is sure doesn't look health. I think that may be a problem." Cloudy had seen the apple trees before but this was the first time she had seen that growth on them and put two and two together.
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Post by Twilight Sparkle on Sept 29, 2011 17:20:23 GMT -5
Oh hello Cloudy! Hmm... I don't remember Sweet Apple Acres ever having this kind of issue since I've been here.
Twilight approached one of the trees and then was hit by a smell. It was the most nauseating smell she ever experienced from the tree and the decaying apples. "I'm not sure if we can save these trees that are already infected, Big Mac, as these are in pretty bad shape. Hopefully we can find the source of the problem and keep it from spreading. Any idea in which direction this plague is moving?"
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Post by Cloud Dreamer on Sept 29, 2011 18:00:16 GMT -5
((ooc: Do we have any specific posting order?))
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AppleJack
New Pony
Soup's on everyponeh!
Posts: 12
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Post by AppleJack on Sept 30, 2011 15:48:07 GMT -5
"Ah just dun' understand it, Ah'm tryin' ta just--awh shoot. " The filly sighed, letting out a growl like moan in frustration as she slammed her skull against the nearest tree, only to cause several blackened fruit to tumble down and methodically drum against her frame."What the-? Ah-Ow! " The mare cried, trying to dodge the few remaining pieces of darkened ammo as they fell from her once beautiful trees. Applejack was at her wit's end. Over the past few weeks her family's whole orchard had just grown darker and darker and nothing natural seemed to be the cause, and with no cause there was no cure.
After swallowing her pride, both AJ and Big Mac had ventured into town to ask for help. She could hear the few equines arriving near their barn, but she was hoping to get the whole thing sorted out herself. However being the friendly pony that she was, the orange mare swiftly made her way towards the source of the noise, a grin on her face.
"Well, howdy there everypony!" She beamed, shaking the hoof of the nearest pony, which happened to be Twilight , her strength again getting the better of her and causing her to shake much harder than she should have before turning to the others. "Thank y'all fer comin ta help us~ We're plum outta ideas fer what could be causin all this here rottin'. "
Her emerald eyes scanned the scene before her, taking in all the new faces albeit without the names to couple with them, Those would come later, as the female was certain Big Mac would have already gone through it all already. Hopefully at least one of these ponies could help them, if not, well , Applejack had no idea what they where going to do.
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