Noteworthy picked himself up and dusted himself off. There were apples scattered everywhere, some in barrels but most on the ground. He’d squashed one falling over, which was surprising seeing as apples aren’t too keen on squishing. There were whumps and thumps coming from the orchards and he could barely see a sluggish red blur through all the apple trees. Noteworthy almost called out to Big Mac, but he looked awfully busy and stopping him now would be detrimental to the momentum he had going. Noteworthy went to the house instead.
The toyetic house was warm and inviting, as always. Noteworthy knocked and an old voice called out, “I told you, you can’t come back inside ‘till all them apple trees is bare! Now get back to work, you great loaf!” It was Granny Smith yelling at who she thought was Mac, obviously; though why wasn’t Applejack helping? Was she sick, or just on another ‘friendship adventure’ with Twilight? Either way, it didn’t really matter; he was only looking to borrow some bits.
“Granny, it’s me, Noteworthy! I was wondering if I could borrow some money!” he called at the closed door. It swung open and there was the wrinkled, old, green pony. She squinted her eyes before realizing who it was.
“Ooh well do come in, boy blue! You still tootin’ that horn of yours?” she said playfully, tugging on his cheek.
“No, Granny, I can’t come in; I just need a few bits so I can get to Appleloosa. Please, Granny, this is important…” Noteworthy implored with his face. Granny Smith could see this and did what every old person does; she ignored reality and forced him into her home for tea and cookies. Noteworthy had never had apple cookies or apple tea before, but they were good. She went on for what seemed like forever, talking about how she remembered when she first saw him as a little colt and whatnot. She even had a photo album with a few pictures of him and some other little ponies, though most were of Applejack or Big Mac at their school talent show.
Noteworthy begged for money again, this time demanding Granny’s full attention. After a bit of persuading, she went and got the cash that he needed. It was barely enough, but he only needed barely enough. He gave his thanks, promised to pay her back, and took his leave. He rushed out the door and down the road, trotting quickly home. He spied Big Mac’s fatigue ridden face through the closer apple trees, which made him feel lucky to not be an apple pony.
Noteworthy came crashing back into his house, nearly slamming the door into the wall. He tossed the saddlebag off then paused and stared at it for a bit, having forgotten to return it. He went and got the bit of bits and bit of bitten bits and stuck a bit of the bits into one side of the bag, and the other bit of the bits into the other side of the saddle bag. He took the weighty saddlebags and left his house, locking the door.
The sun shone at the exceptionally arbitrary time upon the train station. Noteworthy probably bought a ticket and probably spent all or most of his bitcoins, as that was what he went there to probably do. Maybe Noteworthy boarded the supposed ‘train’ that was most likely headed towards Appleloosa’s general direction. Perhaps there may or may not have possibly been transactions aboard this alleged train for some assumed foodstuffs, that can be presumed to have maybe filled his aching hungerbox. Then again, there’s no proof that Noteworthy isn’t not a pony, nor isn’t there no scraps of disproof as to his destination or its supposed existence, or even his.
Nevertheless, Noteworthy settled into the seat with his little pastries, like any other pony besides Lyra, whom choses to sit on her bum. And speaking of bums, Berry Punch was across the lane, sitting and drinking as always. She was swaying back and forth slightly, though the train hadn’t left the station yet. She was squinting very hard at the bottle she had been drinking out of. She looked over and saw Noteworthy was looking over at her; she waved sluggishly to him and he waved back. She very nearly said something before she slumped over and passed out, snoring very lightly. She was drooling in the most undignified manner but Noteworthy didn’t really care, they were good friends.
After a half hour or so, the train finally lurched to a start. The whistle blew a couple times and Berry Punch was startled awake, lifting her head suddenly and looking around trying to figure out where she was, as she often does. She shifted in her seat and slumped back over, falling back asleep, as she also often does. A few other ponies joined their car, sitting in seats far enough away from one another, but not so much as to seem antisocial. A couple behind Noteworthy were chattering away, something about a great deal on apples. Noteworthy watched the passing landscapes wander slowly by as he munched on a thingy he bought off the probability cart. The soft, ambient noise and gently rolling hills drained Noteworthy of his want for being awake, and he soon drifted off.
The rumbling train car rocked Noteworthy as he slept, dreaming in grey. Several times, he nearly awoke at the jostling of the car, but he merely did as Berry Punch so often does and shifted in spot, going back to his personal dreamland. It was Hell.
Noteworthy stood atop the ramparts with Shining Armor and the remaining guards, preparing for the final assault on the castle by the forces of darkness. Having been driven to the final walls, many had started to lose hope for survival. This was to be the final stand; they were massively outnumbered and all would soon be lost, but they could not give up. They drew their bows and started raining copious amounts of arrows down upon the bottlenecked forces. The few remaining unicorns that still lived erected barrier upon barrier onto the gate, in hopes of stopping the dark foes. Noteworthy and a select other few took to stopping the fliers that were trying after the archer guards.
The haphazard stratagem worked, though only for a short while. What little hope and morale these actions garnered were quickly dashed when many took flight at once, bypassing the garrison and making straight for the unicorns in the courtyard. Shining Armor shouted for them to get out of there, but it was too little too late; the barriers fell, then the doors. The hoard broke into the courtyard, swarming anything still standing; some headed for the stairs, while the rest went on to the throne room. Shining Armor was completely defenseless as the swarm quickly devoured him; then they moved to Noteworthy.
Noteworthy rolled and hit the floor as the train stopped suddenly. The whistle blew as he rubbed his eyes and brushed off the crushed thingy-ma-doodle he didn’t eat. He winced in pain as the sun caught his drowsy eyes; it was especially bright, which probably meant he was finally in Appleloosa. He slid the window open and poked his head out. A stereotypical dusty old western town filled with stereotypical dusty big-hatted ponies. A tumbleweed kicked up and rolled on by as he pulled his head back in. He was the last one to leave the train; even the conductor had gotten off for lunch already! Noteworthy was met by Berry Punch who had been apparently waiting for him. She called him a sleepy-head as she tossed him a large off-white hat, which he casually slipped on. Now he was ready!
