Life of an Apple

     Big Mac kicked the apple tree. It was Applebuck Season now, and a few relatives who didn't have their own orchards had come to help out, since the Apple parents were at a hospital for a pregnancy test. The brown cast was still on his neck. It was permanently injured, but it didn't stop him from his apple-bucking duties.

     "Th-they're rich fillies," Applejack had sniffled at the hospital to her brother. "They think I'm a h-horse. What does that mean?"

     "I hate that word," Big Mac told her. "Poppa told me it means you're dirty and sloppy and rude." He smiled. "I think that those unicorns--Rarity and Sapphire--are beatin' you up so they can feel better.

     Now, his sister was watching him, yearn in her eyes. "I wanna buck apples too," she pouted.

     Red apples fell in the cart Big Mac had attatched. Redstreak had added two silver prongs to turn his son's neck cast into a yoke. Now Big Mac could still pull carts even with his injured neck. He looked at his sister. "Then why don't you?"

     Applejack sighed."'Cause I can't. See?" She trotted up to the tree next to his, and kicked it with her hind legs. No apples came down.

     Big Mac gave her a reassuring smile. "No worries, AJ. It takes time."

     Applejack tried kicking the tree again. Still no apples. Without saying a word, the orange filly stormed back into the barn.

     Big Mac sighed. One day, he thought.