Applejack tapped the last barrel into position just under the ripe apple tree. Thump! The mares resounding kick was followed by the clatter of apples falling into the waiting barrels, jarred free of their hold by her solid efforts. Whipping off her hat, she wiped the off the accumulating sweat she was building up from another days work. "Aaallrighty, Macintosh!" she whooped. "'Nother batch hot off the trees!"
Big Macintosh, who was only a few trees behind, tossed the last barrel into the waiting cart. "Eeyup," was his customary and simplistic reply.
Another cool breeze flowed through the Apple farm, rustling the leave and the manes of the working ponies. They both stopped to enjoy the gentle breeze, a rarity during the summer, but a joy with the coming of the fast-approaching fall. The long gust blew itself out, cooling the sweat and fur of the two ponies, but always ending a few seconds premature. Fall was coming, that much was for certain, now it was up to Big Macintosh and Applejack to clear the remaining harvest from their vast acres, or risk loosing what was left of the fruits of their labor.
Helping Big Mac, Applejack clicked the rung into place as her older brother set himself in the wagon's harness. "See you in'a jiffy," Applejack said. Her brother only nodding as he trudged off with the overloaded wagon.
She smiled after him, ever since she can remember, he had been the quiet-hard working stallion tugging away at the carts, its contents tipping precariously but never actually falling. She chuckled. As many times she had successfully pulled off an overloaded cart, their were ten more times she had dumped its contents. Big Mac on the other hoof had never failed.
Dumping another load of barrels in front of her, Applejack began the repetitive routine of apple bucking; position the barrels, give the tree a swift kick, and repeat. It was something she did daily, and enjoyed it none the less.
The day carried on as usual; Applejack bucked the trees, Big Mac hauled off the harvest. Just another day at the Apple farm. The sun over head slowly dipped closer to the horizon, the sky thickening with clouds as the pegasus prepared for the coming storm. It's gonna be a dozy! or so Pinkie Pie had said.
Big Mac had just returned from his fourth trip of the day, and he began unhitching himself from the wagon, the rusty latch giving him trouble as always. With a quick and practiced flip, the wagon's harness fell away.
Applejack had been approaching him since his arrival and now stood beside her big brother. She glanced over at the setting sun. "I reckon thats'a enough for today, Big Mac. I'm sure we can clear the rest of this here lot tomorrow."
Big Mac simply shrugged, his calm gaze and gentle smile never flickered. "Eeyup."
"Alright well, I'm gonna head off to Fluttershy's," Applejack said, turning to trot off in the direction of the small cottage. "I'll be a little late gettin' home tonight, so just have Granny wrap up the leftovers!" she called behind her.
Once again, Big Mac simply shrugged and gave his customary response. "Eeyup."
<><><><><><>
Not far from Fluttershy's cottage, next to a stream, four fillies were in a heated game of soccer.
Aura, an earth filly with a lavender coat and matching turquoise blue eyes and mane, pranced about as she successfully scored another goal, whooping her victory. Sunny Daze, an earth filly, Aura's team mate and best friend, cheered along with her from the net she guarded at the opposite end of the field, her bright white mane and yellow coat shining in the sunlight. "Yeah! Go team Aura and Sunny!" she whooped.
Tootsie Flute, a unicorn filly with a pale blue coat and two-tone light purple mane, snorted in irritation, but didn't say a word. The score was three-to-zero.
Sweet Tooth, a pale pink earth filly with a two tone light, apple green mane cheered her team mate on from the goal, her soft voice barely carrying across the field to Sunny Daze only thirty yards away. "It's okay Tootsie! You'll get it next time!"
Tootsie Flute said nothing, but instead returned to the center field, focusing herself to make the goal. This did not stop Aura from boasting. "You sure you want to continue, Tootsie? I mean, there's no shame in losing to me," Aura made a dramatic flourish. "After all, I am awesome."
"Aura, just get in the middle and take the ball," she kicked it to Aura. "It's your serve any way."
Shrugging, the earth filly took center across from the unicorn and crouched in a ready. Tootsie Flute doing like-wise. At Sunny Daze's mark, Aura took off with the ball attempting to by pass Tootsie. The two fillies met in the center and Tootsie managed to snatch the ball with a sly flick of her hind legs, running past the shocked Aura, Tootsie made a dash for the goal only a short distance away.
With a deft kick, Tootsie sent the ball careening for the goal, sure to make its mark, but not before Sunny Daze knocked it away with a headbutt. Sending it sailing clear over Tootsie's head and across to Aura who took off at a break neck pace, one Tootsie was sure not to keep pace with.
Coming in close to the left side of the goal, Aura kicked the ball giving it a slight spin. Sweet Tooth dived for the ball as it careened for the net, only to graze it with her hoof as she fell short. The ball was knocked off course slightly, but only to hit the makeshift, tree-limb pole and bounced into the net making a score. Once again, Aura and Sunny Daze cheered at another point. Sweet Tooth attempted to cheer up Tootsie, but the unicorn would have none of it.
"Ug! This is so unfair!" Tootsie exclaimed. "If I could use magic, then it would be easier for me. I don't have the strength or speed of an earth pony!"
Aura shrugged, "But then it would be unfair for us, because you could just use your magic to take the ball."
"But I'm up against two earth fillies, one to guard the goal and another to fight for the ball. Besides, Sweet Tooth can't even guard the our goal and you play this like its your natural talent!" Tootsie said, rolling her eyes.
Sunny Daze spoke up for Sweet Tooth, who visibly flinched at Tootsie Flute's harsh words. "Hey! Sweet Tooth's trying her hardest, besides, not every filly is good at soccer and its just a game."
"Yeah," Aura agreed. "There's no need to be a sore loser about it!"
Tootsie looked shocked, "I am not a sore loser!"
"Are too!" Aura retorted.
"Are not!" Tootsie shot back.
"Your being one now!" Aura huffed.
"Fine!" Tootsie exclaimed. "Ill show you sore loser!"
Tootsie Flute's horn glowed a pale blue and the soccer ball hovered in the air for a short moment, before shooting off to land in the fast flowing stream, its black and white checkered form rolling and bouncing off with the current and small rapids. Turning, the angry unicorn ran off into the bushes back to Ponyville.
"Tootsie!" Aura called after the retreating figure. "There was no need for that!"
The three fillies sat in a moment in shock at their friends rash behavior, before Sweet Tooth broke the silence. "I'm sorry girls, that was probably partially my fault," she said backing away. "I'll go talk to her, I know she didn't really mean it." With that, the pale pink earth filly hurried after Tootsie, who was probably at the edge of town by now.
Aura wasted no time, "Come on Sunny Daze, let's go get our ball back."
Sunny Daze nodded and followed her friend as they chased after the retreating ball, now a good distance down the fast flowing stream. The two fillies ran fast, quickly closing the distance between them and the ball as they past by Fluttershy's cottage, the leaves and brush skimming by their coats.
Huffing and puffing, the fillies came to the bend in the creek. Aura lunged at the ball just as it rounded the bend, but missed. With the stream, now at a slight downward angle, picking up speed as the creek widened some, growing slightly deeper as well. Aura picked herself up out of the water and jumped to the other side of the creek. "Come on Sunny! There's another bend just ahead, if we hurry we can get it for sure this time."
Sunny looked nervously at the forest around them, it grew thicker in the direction Aura was pointing. "I don't know Aura, we're practically in the Everfree forest, you know where not supposed to be in here."
Sunny's pleas fell on deaf ears, "Don't worry about it, I've been here plenty of times, never had a problem," Aura proclaimed with a broad smile, her confidence shining brightly. Sunny Daze looked back up the creek, then back at Aura. She gulped, Aura was going to go with or without Sunny; that much she knew for sure, but Sunny was not about to let her best friend go into a creepy forest alone. Not while she still had breath in her lungs.
Deftly hopping the creek, Sunny landed beside the damp Aura and gave her a forced smile, which Aura returned whole heartily, beaming with joy. Taking off once again, the two fillies dashed off to catch up with the ball as it flowed off downstream almost mocking them as it danced over the crooks and flows.
Dashing through clearings, dodging brush and trees, the two winded fillies ran on to intercept the elusive ball, determined to catch their prize. Carefully skirting a large patch of Poison Joke, the the winded fillies reached the next bend in the fast flowing stream.
Aura looked both ways, up and down the stream. "Did we lose it?"
Sunny Daze shook her head, "No, I think we beat it actually..."
Waiting for a moment longer, the two fillies kept eyeing the river both directions, looking for signs of their mischievous little soccer ball. The seconds seem to tick by slowly as they waited...and waited. Finally, Sunny was the first to speak. "Maybe it got caught on a limb or something up stream?" she asked.
Aura shrugged, "I guess, I would have thought we'd see it by now."
As if waiting for those words, the soccer ball popped around the bend, bouncing and dancing off the banks and floating debris as it made its way down the large stream. The fillies faces glowed at the sight.
Wading out a short distance into the stream, Aura readied herself for the ball as it drew ever nearer. Snatching the ball out of the water, Aura bumped it to Sunny Daze who caught with a cheerful glee. "Way to go Aura! Now let's get out of here, this place is starting-"
A deep snarl interrupted Sunny as the two fillies froze at the sudden, vicious noise. They stood in place, Aura still belly deep in the flowing current and Sunny sitting in place, the soccer ball lying forgotten between her hooves. Neither moved as the forest around them erupted into a deafening silence, only their eyes meeting each other in fear.
They heard a rustling sound not far from the bank, opposite of their own. As if stepping out of a nightmare, a diamond dog emerged from the brush. Nothing about it was remotely civilized; from its ragged and patchy coat, to the blood-shot, yellow eyes and nasty claws. Foam dribbled from its chin as it snarled at them again, hunger, madness and anger filling its eyes.
Screaming in terror, the two fillies took off in a flash, the weariness of their quest to save the ball forgotten as they made haste to put as much distance between themselves the feral-rabid dog. Leaves and trees flew past in a blur as the two fillies ran as fast as they could screaming for help, the ragged panting sound of the mad dog behind them only grew closer as the creature took advantage of its longer legs and strength.
Aura, whom had the lead in the desperate attempt to escape the mad dog, chanced a look back to be sure her best friend was still following. It was a terrible mistake. Turning back, reassured that her friend was still hot on her tail, had only left more shaken than relieved as she could see the mad dog gaining on them.
Aura attempted to dodge an exposed root that had suddenly barred her path, but to no avail. Her hind hoof caught on the root, tripped up the earth filly sending her sprawling as a sharp pain shot through her hind leg and she tumbled to a halt. Sunny Daze skidded to a halt as well and ran back to her friend, who she had dodged to avoid a bruising collision. "Come on, Aura!" she shouted frantically, attempting to help up the lavender filly.
Another bolt of pain shot through her leg and up her spine as Aura attempted to stand, but her hind leg would have none of it. Collapsing on the ground, supported by her forelegs, a cry of terror escaped Aura. "I can't, I think my I dislocated my hind leg!" They both froze in fear as they heard the wheezing of the mad dog's approach and it begin circling them in the bush, sizing up his prey before the attack. Aura clutched her friends hoof, her voice cracking. "Sunny Daze...I'm scared."
Sunny Daze attempted to comfort her friend, but to no avail, as she herself was short of a full on panic. "It's going to be okay, Aura," she said, holding her friends hoof, "we'll be okay.
The dog stepped forward out of the brush, foam dripping, lungs wheezing as it slowly approached as if expecting a trap. Sunny Daze let go of her friends hoof. Fear and panic gripped her heart mercilessly as she bravely stepped towards the mad dog, but she pushed it aside. She knew what she was doing was foolish, but what other choice did she have? She couldn't hope to outrun the dog with Aura, nor could she run to get help before it claimed her friend. Confronting the beast was her only option.
Pushing the fear past a tight knot in her throat, she stepped forward just out of reach, looking the mad dog in the eye. "Get out of here you big meanie! Go on get!" she shouted, waving her hooves. The mad dog looked hesitant for a moment at the fillies courage, but was quickly set aside as it's eyes flashed with anger and hunger.
Leaping forward, the dog made a swipe at Sunny Daze with his big hefty paw, Sunny narrowly dodging the brutal swipe that sent the dog stumbling from its carried momentum. Ducking and weaving, Sunny Daze avoided a few more swipes, but only by the chance of luck. Skidding to a halt from another jump, Sunny's hooves landed on some loose gravel, her legs sliding out from under her, with a cry of surprise, she stumbled and fell, collapsing in a heap.
With a roar of victory, the mad dog swiped at Sunny again as she attempted to regain her footing and landed a stunning blow on the little fillies shoulder. Sunny was sent sprawling through the air from the blow and thudded bodily against a tree, landing beside Aura. She slumped to the ground, stunned, her shoulder bruised and bleeding from the mad dog's claws. "Sunny Daze!" Aura yelled, as she attempted to stand again, only be forced back down by her leg, forcing her to crawl to her unconscious friends side.
The mad dog turned it's attention to Aura as she shouted out for her friend. With a crazed bark, the dog leaped at Aura, it's teeth flashing as if to sever her neck in one bite. An orange blur crashed through the brush and collided with the mad dog mid leap, sending both crashing into the ground by the carried momentum.
Applejack and the mad dog wrestled on the ground throwing up dirt and debris in the wild melee. Landing a stunning one-two with her fore hooves, the mad dog backed away, face smarting from the rapid attack. Planting herself firmly between the two fillies and the mad dog, Applejack stood her ground, nose bleeding and a few minor scratches and cuts dotting her face.
Fluttershy burst through the tree's coming from the same direction as Applejack, she stopped and gasped at the pair as they squared off, the mad foaming dog slowly recovering from the unexpected attack. "Oh my!"
Not taking her eyes off the mad dog, Applejack quickly rapped out a command, breaking Fluttershy from her seemingly horrid trance as she starred at the dog. "Fluttershy! Take the fillies and get out'a of here," she said, indicating the still unconscious Sunny Daze and and alert Aura. "I'll hold off this mangy mutt."
Fluttershy looked hesitant, but quickly swallowed her fear. Swooping down, she threw Aura over her should and grabbed Sunny Daze with her hooves, flying a short distance away before looking back at Applejack. The dog did an insane twitch and snarled as it watched its meal fly away in the grasp of the yellow pegasus. "I'll send help, Applejack!" she called.
Applejack didn't flinch as she watched the dog snap madly at ghostly figures around it. "Go! Don't wait on me," without warning the dog spun and ran full charge for the retreating figure, attempting to side step Applejack. "Oh no you don't!" she shouted as she tackled the dog for a second time and managed to pin him for a few second. "Be quick Fluttershy, I don't know how long I can hold' em, I think he has some kinda disease!"
The mad dog unpinned its arm and threw off Applejack, sending her tumbling into the dust. Whirling on the recovering earth pony, the mad dog charged, angry that it's once easy meal had escaped, foam and teeth flashing.
Narrowly dodging the assault, Applejack ducked and wove through the flailing paws. Spotting an opening, she lashed out with a hard side kick, her hind leg making contact with the dogs jaw, but seemed to have no effect as it lunged forward intent on grabbing her in a bear hug. Side-skipping, the mare hit him with another one-two in the ribs, causing the mad dog to flinch.
Snapping and swiping at the pony, the mad dog continued on with it's relentless onslaught until it managed to latch on to one of Apple jacks forelegs with a grip that could have bent steel. Snarling at its first advantage, the dog pulled Applejack into a bear hug and snapped at her neck, intent on severing the soft tissue. Dodging the first snap, Applejack managed to fend off a second as she freed her hoof and braced it against the dogs own neck, halting off any further attacks.
Feeling her hind hooves touch the ground, Applejack squared her stance, grabbed the mad dog and wrestle him to the ground, her long years of wrestling with Big Mac shining as she gained the top position and began raining down blows. The mad dog took every single strike, each beginning to take their toll as the strong mare wore him down, his own hind paws raking Applejack's stomach as he fought for control, leaving bloody scratches. Making a desperate swipe, the dog struck Applejack a square and solid blow to the jaw. Her neck snapped sideways with an audible pop and a loud grunt.
Rolling over, the mad dog gained a position of advantage and began pelting Applejack with strikes of his own, as she attempted to fend them off with her forelegs and hooves. The dog latched onto her foreleg with his teeth and bit down. Pain shot through her foreleg and hoof as she felt the teeth scrape bone, a cry of pain bursting through her grit teeth. Yanking left and right, the dog attempted to move the obstructing limb. His paw managed to find its way past her forelegs and slashed Applejack across the chest, the lacerations quickly welling up with blood as droplets were flung left and right from her bloodied foreleg.
In a desperate attempt, Applejack planted her hind legs in the mad dogs stomach as she felt its bite loosen and fall away, his attempts to find a new target failing. With a mighty heave, Applejack threw the dog off her, sending him sprawling and landing unceremoniously in a heap of fur and limbs.
"Gah!" she cried, as the mare babied her torn foreleg. Another spike of pain shot through her as she tenderly touched it, blood pouring out. The pain was overwhelming.
The mad dog untangled himself and watched Applejack cautiously, its yellow-bloodshot eyes searching its prey for more exploitable weaknesses. Circling the wounded mare, the dog held himself almost victoriously as he could see the wounds taking their toll on the pony; already she was beginning to look pale. Tensing himself for the final assault, the mad dog leaped at Applejack, making his last, grave mistake.
Whirling on her good leg, Applejack spun and mule kicked the mad dog with all of her might, "Hayyyah!" she shouted. All of her years of apple bucking and strength went into the final-devastating attack. A loud and sickening crunch sounded as both of her hooves made contact with the dog, practically crushing his chest. The dog yelped and was sent sailing away from Applejack, only to smack into a tree not far from them. It crumbled to the ground and lay still, its sides heaving from the impact.
Applejack collapsed as the last of her strength faded, leaving her feeling like a cold-empty husk, her blood pooling around her. The edges of her vision were starting to blacken as she gasped for air not unlike a fish out of water. Surprisingly the dog got up, either out of sheer will, the influence of his sickness or both, the dog got up.
Turning towards her, it snarled gently, the effort no doubt putting a strain on his shattered chest. Slowly but surely, the dog covered the eight feet between them, Applejack's vision narrowing still. The mad dog now stood over her wheezing, its crazed eyes still glowing with rage and hunger, despite the obvious pain her kick had inflicted. It reached down with its jaws to clamp over her neck. This is it, she thought, I don't have the strength to fight him, this is it... the jaws reaching ever closer.
Even in her fading vision, her weakened pulse pounding in her ears, Applejack saw the familiar rainbow streak flash by her, slamming into the mad dogs chest, no doubt killing the beast and sending both crashing into the brush.
Her vision narrowed further, the edges blurry and black, everything loosing focus. The sound of approaching ponies could be heard, but it was like listening from another room, they were calling her name. A blurred, cyan pony picked herself up from the brush, the limp body of the mad dog under her, her familiar rainbow mane ruffled even more than normal. She quickly run to Applejack, skidding to a halt.
"Applejack!" Rainbow Dash called, You sounds so far away... "Stay with me!" she said, she felt a hoof touch her shoulder.
"It's going to be okay, AJ." Twilight?
And then the blackness filled her vision and the worldly problems slipped from her mind. Only peace and silence followed her.
