All in a nights work

I sit up groggily and wipe the hardened sleep away. A stretch sharpens my senses and I turn my attention to my duties.

I slide out from under the soft covers and quietly make my way to the adjoining room. My host and charge, Twilight was still sound asleep on her own bed and spike was also oblivious to my watchful eye, away in dreamland. I take a quick trip to the bathroom and make my way to the first floor and the kitchen.

I magically collect the ingredients for pancakes and begin making and cooking them. Half way through the batter, a yawn breaks me from my stupor.

"Hey Archer. You making breakfast?"

"Yep, spike" I say, smiling at him.

"cool! Something else I don't have do for Twi."

I watch spike waddle over to the table and jump up onto his specially made chair. He glances my way expectantly. I roll my eyes and levitate some freshly made pancakes to his waiting plate. Spike digs in and hoofsteps draw my attention to the stairs.

"Hey Twilight, just in time! I made breakfast!"

I use my magic to waft the smells of fresh pastry over to her, causing her nose to twitch. Twilight trots over and sits on a floor cushion, watching spike eat with weary eyes. I fill two plates with the hot pancakes, give them a generous dash of maple syrup (thanks to maple tree, the mare who runs the new maple syrup stall) and take them over to the table. I place the plate beneath Twilight's nose but notice she has fallen asleep.

"Twilight?"

Her eyes snap open and she bends her neck to face me.

"Hmm?"

"You alright, you seem a might tired."

"Yeah I'm alright, I have been having trouble with nightmares... but i'm having a sleepover at applejack's tonight, a change of scenery might help... speaking of which, do you wanna come tonight?"

I nod. Gotta keep an eye on Twilight, even if she is away from home.

"Great! Now the plan for the day is...."

"Twi?"

"Yeah?"

"Don't you think you should get some sleep? There's no way you will be able to enjoy yourself if you are half asleep anyway."

"That's a good idea but I can't! I have to collect grocery's this morning!"

"I'll do that. You get some sleep"

"Thank you sooo much! Here's the list of what we need, here's the bits to pay for it all, there is the exact amount an"

"Twilight. I think I can handle this. Eat your breakfast and get to bed."

She nods. I quickly swallow the remainder of the mildly warm pancakes before levitating a snoozing Twilight to her bed. I check the windows are locked and place a warning wire (kind of like a trip wire that goes in a doorway except when it it set off a beacon vibrates in my saddlebags) in the doorway and shut the door. Spike had gone off to help rarity on his day out so Twi would be alone for the morning. I levitate my normal saddlebags onto my bag, collect the list and bits from the counter and trot out the door, closing it behind me and flip the open sign to closed.

The first few stalls went without a hitch. Carrots, celery, cherry's (what is with twilight and making alphabetical lists?) Next is apples. (scratch that.)

I make my way to the wooden stall unaware of anything wrong with the orange mare behind it. Then, as I get closer, I see it.

Applejack is covered in scratches and bruises, the latter forming a latticework that shows through her barely combed fur. I could see that it even pained her to move.

"Oh my goodness, AJ! What on earth happened to you?"

"Ah, it's nathing ta worry 'bout sugarcube, just fell outta bed tats all."

"Applejack, you have always been a terrible liar, what happened?"

"Ah don't rightly know, Archer. One morn'in i'm fit as a fiddle, next, I'm covered in these."

"Hmm" I muse

"Have you heard or seen anything strange on the farm recently?"

"Nope, sorry sugarcube... did'ya want some apples?

"Ill get them applejack. See you tonight."

""See ya'll later Archer"

This is strange. Applejack is alone on the farm at the moment. Granny smith is away visiting apple strudel, Applebloom is away with the cutie mark crusaders in Canterlot thanks to fancy pants, Rarity's coltfriend, and big mac is away on a cider business trip. What could have caused Applejack to get such injuries? Seems like this needs to be investigated... I had better take my crossbow.