Chapter 1
Drafted
I opened the door of my house and stepped outside. It was another beautiful summer day in the city of Staliongrad. The birds were singing and flying about, the flowers had begun to bloom, and the fresh smell of summer air rolled by. I trotted over to the barn and put on my work equipment. Then it was off to the fields to buck apples. My sister Applejack was already out there bucking her heart out as she always did. I looked at her and said, “mornin’ AJ.” She stopped for a second and said good morning back. I finally got to the southern end of the field, I was only about one-third of the way done and without wasting a breath, and I too began bucking at the trees. I bucked tree after tree after tree, collecting the apples and putting them into my saddle baskets.
After about five hours of bucking, I heard the lunch bell ring out scaring the birds out of the trees as it always did. I wasn’t in a big hurry to get back, I walked slow enjoying all the nature around me. I made it back to the house and pushed open the door. Everyone had began to eat without me; I was always the last pony in to each lunch. I took my seat next to Granny Smith and started eating my oatmeal. Granny Smith looked at me and asked how the bucking was coming. “Great” I said, “I’ve finished bout half the field and should be able to knock out the other half within a day er so.” She smiled and me and said “very good,” we are right on schedule like we always are.” We all chuckled at that comment.
Granny Smith finished her meal first as she always did, she eats so fast and so much she could eat a bear in one bite if she wanted. I was still eating, but AJ and Apple Bloom finished next, Apple Bloom went to help Granny Smith sell the apples and AJ went back to bucking. I quickly finished my lunch and I too went back to work. When I got to the field, I galloped by AJ who was of course to busy bucking to at least nod in acknowledgement to me, but I didn’t mind. AJ was a hard worker and proud of what she does. She would stand up to anypony who tried to put her down. I got to my section of field and immediately got back to bucking, getting tree after tree after tree.
I looked down at my hoof watch and it was the end of the workday. I wiped the sweat off my brow and headed on back to the house. I got out of the field and saw Ditzy Doo flying down to our doorstep. She saw me and started to wave; I waved back and galloped to the house to meet her. She put her hoof into her saddlebag and pulled out two letters. She handed them to me and I took them in my hoof. I thanked her and watched her head off into the distance to deliver the rest of her mail. I walked inside and handed the letters over to AJ. She looked at the first one, “bill’s why do we get so many god damn bill’s?” I gave her an angry look Apple Bloom was in the room and I didn’t want the little filly to learn how to talk like her. AJ just rolled her eyes and looked at the other letter, “hmmm,” she mumbled in a questioning tone. “Looks like this ones fer you Big Mac.” I trotted over and grabbed the letter in my mouth. I then sat in one of the chairs and opened it, once I read the letter my heart sank, I dropped the letter on the ground. AJ and the others began to look at me. “What wrong Big Mac?” said Apple Bloom? I looked to them all and said, “Its finally come to me, I’ve been drafted.” I lowered my head and began to cry. Apple Bloom and the others stared in shock and they too began to cry. Ever since we declared war on Ponystan I had managed to not get involved with the war, but after eight years of fighting I guess more soldiers were needed to help win fight. My family gathered around me, tears filled their eyes. I couldn’t bear to see them like this. I bolted out the door and headed for the field. When I got there I sat down next to a tree and put my head on my knees.
About ten minutes later AJ found me and sat down next to me. She put her forehead against my cheek and said, “I don’t want you to go, but I understand that when duty calls, duty calls. I want you to be safe. We all want you to be safe. Please I don’t want you to get killed like Breaburn did.” I remember the day when Breaburn volunteered to fight with the paratroopers. He was so excited about going he waited days and the volunteer office. We were all sad to see him go but were glad he was going to serve his country. About six months later, we received notice that Breaburn and his company were completely wiped out by the Mujahedeen. It was the worst day for all of us. It was so upsetting that we didn’t even go to the funeral.
It was getting late and AJ had fallen asleep on me. I picked her up on my back and walked back to the house. Granny Smith had fallen asleep in her rocker and I could hear Apple Bloom crying upstairs. I carried AJ up to her room and put her into bed. I then walked on over to Apple Blooms room. She had stopped crying but was still teary eyed. I sat down next to her and she curled up next to me. She looked me right in the eye and said, “Pleaaaseee Big Mac, Pleaaaseeee don’t go. I don’t want you to die like Breaburn did.” I started stroking her mane, and I gave her a promise that I would return home alive. She smiled a little bit and started to yawn. “Well it’s gonna be an early mornin’ Apple Bloom, So get’cher self tah sleep.” She wiped her eyes and crawled into bed. I gave her a kiss on the cheek and told her good night. I walked over to my room and crawled into my bed. I was very tired from work and I was going to have a big day tomorrow. I rolled over and fell asleep.
