[Normal] [Sad]
Author: Gabriel LaVedier
Description: Granny Smith is awake late at night, nursing an ailment. She is met by a pony from her past, a part of the Apple family better left forgotten, who will not respect her will. A wager is set, the stakes are high, and a game is played for the soul of the family.
The Discarded Son
Additional Tags: Bad Apple, Granny Smith, Braeburn, Sweet Apple Acres, Poker
45 comments:
fist
wrist
Mist
List
jist
C-C-C-C-COMBOBREACKER
Now that's the way you write a Western. Great job keeping up the tension of the card game!
Oh prereaders,
'Big Macintosh was squared away in his bedroom, as was Applejack.'
What's Applejack doing in Big Macintosh's bedroom? I *know* that's not what you meant, so do be careful!
(no spoiler, this is literally the third sentence of the story and tripped my inner grammar pony)
I was hoping for a sequel, thanks for this! Hope we see more of Bad Apple!
I remember the first entry of this story from a while back. I'd been waiting for the continuation for a while. Good read. I had Red Dead Redemption flashbacks throughout it.
@ToonNinja
The author is my best friend, and I'm happy to say that he has 5 or 6 more stories in the works regarding Bad Apple.
Wow, that was unexpectedly good. :) Very good in fact. I loved the Twist at the end. It had a very Western Feel to it, and I'd really like to see more of Bad Apple.
Well that was nice thing to read. I just love when the stories make me point at the screen with sentences like "WHAT?!" or "Hahaha, he totally did it!".
Well, this was good. Is there gonna be more?
I'd especially like to understand 'bout the river allusion.
I really like this Bad Apple character you've got going here. You're doing wonders with the apple family. Keep up the good work.
Ahh, it does my heart good to know my efforts are appreciated.
Western comparisons are, of course, entirely appreciated. The origial impetus for the creation of Bad Apple was to have a riverboat gambler type or saloon poker player, right down to his attire. He's got a touch of the huckster about him, though as he tells Granny Smith, he uses his powers for good, even if it isn't always strictly legal. A card-playing Robin Hood.
Wow! Great story! Didn't expect a twist like that. I thought the story would end differently than it did. Great job!
@Gabriel LaVedier
Daaaamn... You sir can weave a stirring little story you can! Oh man, that was just great! THe allusions to a long drawn out backstory, Applejacks relation with Bad Apple, the whole Apple Family story. And the atmosphere! it was so rich and had such distinct style!
Dude, you HAVE to do more. I just... I question whether I would rather see this as a fantastic stand alone or a component to a fantastic continuity. Either way, holy crap that was a good one. 5 Stars.
Wait... is Bad Apple AJ's and Big Mac's Dad? or is he Braeburns Dad? You mentioned his Niece and Nephew, so I was confused there. Want more story.
Pretty good, but why does every author feel the need to shovel in a totally pointless and unnecessary AJ/RD ship all the goddamn time! >:(
yes
In this conception of he Apple Family Bad Apple is the firstborn son of Granny Smith, and AJ/Big Mac/Applebloom's dad was second. They stand to inherit not just the small Ponyville property but control of all Apple holdings in Equestria, making them Southern Aristocrats proper. But Bad Apple rightly points out a lot of that property was bought with tears.
As for the shipping, it was needed to show Granny Smith's (and all Conservative Equestria's) stance on social issues. Mostly, it's all about gender percentages, plus Cutie Marks. There's even a hint of her aristocratic disdain for, not just city folk, FACTORY city folk. She's like a Southern family matriarch confronted with someone from Detroit.
...Bad Apple?
inb4touhou
@Gabriel LaVedier actually i'd like to retract my earlier statement after rethinking it, the shipping does indeed make good sense in context
Thanks for clearing that issue up for me
I loved this, two hoofs up!
I like how there is a sour apple or two in the bunch.
Okay, I really like Bad Apple. He didn't even seem to me to be a bad pony, just a gambler. OFC, he's the anti-racism character in this story, so my views may be a bit skewed.
So wait, Granny is against Colt Cuddlers, but is fine with AJ/RD together? Am I reading this right? Great story otherwise, though judging from the comments there are previous stories involving Bad Apple I'm not aware of.
@Rhomega It says in the story Coltcuddlers can't have children while Fillyfoolers, through the power of magic, can.
Some times the good guys wear black hats. Also an Apple is an Apple no matter how far it falls from the tree.
over9000/10
T'is strange. For some reason, I can't like Bad Apple.
I should like him. He's the open-minded one, and he's trying to make the world a better place. So why don't I like him? I can't explain it. Somehing about him rubs me the wrong way.
Enough rambling; The story was an interesting read, and the game was a nice metaphor.
Very well done. I wish I could write up a good anti-hero like you can.
Progress versus tradition.
Maybe not the best example I've ever seen of it, but it's a nice idea and well written.
3/5, easy, I'd give it a 3.5/5 if I had the option on ED.
over9000/10
Okay, I really like Bad Apple. He didn't even seem to me to be a bad pony, just a gambler. OFC, he's the anti-racism character in this story, so my views may be a bit skewed.
I was hoping for a sequel, thanks for this! Hope we see more of Bad Apple!
Oh prereaders,
'Big Macintosh was squared away in his bedroom, as was Applejack.'
What's Applejack doing in Big Macintosh's bedroom? I *know* that's not what you meant, so do be careful!
(no spoiler, this is literally the third sentence of the story and tripped my inner grammar pony)
wrist
Very well done. I wish I could write up a good anti-hero like you can.
@StrangeNoise
As a pre-reader, perhaps they were keeping it in the family?
*shrug* we don't catch every damned thing there is, you know.
D'you have -any- idea how many fics we go through in a friggin' day?
Excellent story.
When I first saw the (very) light shipping I was a little put off, but when I saw how you downplayed it and used it to express GS's intolerance, I thought it was an excellent choice. Bad Apple comes off as a great anti-hero. I wouldn't even care if he cheated to win.
"Cheat" is such a strong word. Notice all the sevens? That's not a coincidence. He has a wild talent, essentially an inborn magic power that works without a unicorn horn (Like Pinkie Sense). He can sense sevens in any deck. It is of limited utility, but he has polished it to the point that he can skew percentages in his favor. He knows exactly where in the deck they are or if they're in a hand. It's a small thing but it matters.
"Cheat" is such a strong word. Notice all the sevens? That's not a coincidence. He has a wild talent, essentially an inborn magic power that works without a unicorn horn (Like Pinkie Sense). He can sense sevens in any deck. It is of limited utility, but he has polished it to the point that he can skew percentages in his favor. He knows exactly where in the deck they are or if they're in a hand. It's a small thing but it matters.
Very well crafted story, and I really liked Bad Apple. Hope to see a third part to this.
Having read people's affirmations about the kind of stallion Bad Apple is, I get what kind of character he's supposed to be. I still can't put a voice to him though; all the southern ponies in Equestria are like, cowboy southern, not stately aristocratic southern.
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