Twilight slowed down her pace as she rushed past the houses. Though she was caught up and in a hurry, she remembered that the gang couldn't just all get together like old times.

"Finally...jeez, you finally slowed down," Spike caught up to Twilight. "So, who do we start with?"

"Rainbow Dash is away from Ponyville for a couple more days for the Wonderbolts, and I remembered Rarity saying something about leaving for Canterlot to buy supplies...." Twilight glanced towards the direction of Canterlot. "It feels like...we haven't been too close together after the wedding."

"Come on Twilight, it's just that everyone's busy with their own...things." Spike replied.

"Sure, we all have our own lives to get back to, but weren't we all a part of each of those lives?" Twilight glanced down at her hooves and sighed.

"Don't worry Twi, it's not like friendship fades that easily..." Spike gave a reassuring smile before Twilight snapped back to her senses. "Oh...I just went on complaining didn't I? I'm sorry Spike, you shouldn't have to listen to my rants. Anyways, lets start with Fluttershy. I'm sure she'll hop right in!

_______________________________________________________

Fluttershy waved as a mailpony trotted away. She got an unusual abundance of letters today. Some from her old fans when she was dragged by Photo Finish through her model career, and another from Photo Finish herself about getting Fluttershy back in business, and one from Rainbow Dash about coming back soon from the Wonderbolts camp, which she opened and read immediately. One particular envelope with an emblem of a crescent moon stood out among the remaining letters.

Who could this be from?

Inside the envelop was a single parchment paper with just a couple blunt sentences written on it.

A sudden urgent matter. Presence is expected. Prepare for departure.

Fluttershy stared at the letter for quite some time before she heard somepony knocking on her door.

Rainbow Dash? She's back earlier than I expected.

However, instead of her flamboyant Pegasus friend, she was greeted by Twilight. "Oh, hi Twilight!" Though it wasn't Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy was still delighted to see a good friend of her's. It had been a couple weeks since Fluttershy directly talked to one of her best friends. She could see Spike all the way in the back, out of breath. "What brings you here?"

"Hello Fluttershy, how are your animals?" Twilight too, was glad to hear Fluttershy's soft voice. However, there wasn't much time for idle talk. "I'd love to keep on chatting, but we got a world to save."

"....?" Fluttershy stared at Twilight for a couple of seconds. "H-hold on...I'll be right back..." Fluttershy trotted back to the table to check to see if the letter was still there. "Twilight, did you send....?"

"What was that!?" Twilight yelled back from the doorway.

Fluttershy pondered in thought for a moment. "Erm...nothing!!" She figured her lavender friend wouldn't send such a letter in a urgent matter to "save a world".

By the time Fluttershy came back to the door, Spike finally caught up. "Hey...Flutter....shy..." He gasped out her name before Twilight cut him off. "Anyways Fluttershy, pack up enough stuff for a week-or-so stay at Canterlot and meet met at the station in exactly 30 minutes from now, alright? Let's go get Applejack now, Spike." With that said, Twilight galloped away, leaving Spike in the dust. "Bye....Fluttershy...." Spike proceeded to crawl after Twilight's trail.

Fluttershy just stood there for a while, rooted to the floor, processing what Twilight had told her.

So we're staying in Canterlot for a week? What's happening over there?

After a minute of silence, Fluttershy couldn't keep the laughter inside. It felt like it had been a long time since she saw Twilight running around the small town, gathering attention, going on about saving Equestria.

"Just like old times...isn't it?" After gently shutting the door, Fluttershy heard papers rustling behind her. "Angel, please stop messing with the le-" She decided not to go on, since it wasn't her cute Angel bunny looking through the letters, but a unicorn cloaked in red, staring at the envelop with the crescent on it. He slowly shifted his attention towards Fluttershy, but his hood hid most of his face, only revealing his snout. "Ms. Fluttershy?" He spoke in a calm, but demanding tone. "Wielder of the Element of Kindness. Your presence is expected at Canterlot immediately."

Fluttershy couldn't help but give a doubtful look at the unexpected guest.

Who is...how did he...? I don't remember leaving anywhere open...

Soon she managed to build enough courage to speak. "Um...excuse me, but who are you?"

"Who I am does not matter. What you should worry about is getting ready to come with us." The stallion quickly replied. Fluttershy could not trust this unicorn at all. She decided to keep quiet about Twilight, and she was just about ready to chase this intruder out of her house.

Twilight didn't say anything about this...

So, she decided to mare up. "Look here, Mister." Fluttershy stared right into where she assumed the stallion's eyes would be. "I'm not going to follow a stranger all cloaked up, who showed up in my living room without notice or permission. You won't even tell me who you are! If you thought that the Wielder of the Element of Kindness was such a pushover, you have another thing coming for you."

"If my attempt at secrecy have offended you, I owe you a sincere apology." The stallion bowed his head, unfazed of Fluttershy's change of attitude. "I assure you, everything will be explained when we are safe. For now, we must leave this area at once. My subordinate is currently keeping an eye out for pursuers. He should be back any-"

"Stop it right there!!!" A voice roared from the door as it was slammed open.

Fluttershy spun around to see 3 royal guards standing at the doorway, two on the side with helmets covering their faces, and one in the middle with a face she knew too well.

Fluttershy gasped. "Shining Armor? What are you...doing here?" Indeed, it was Twilight's brother, with a menacing look on his face.

"Step away from her right now, or you'll go through what he did." Shining Armor dragged an unconscious pony cloaked in red, just like the one behind Fluttershy.

"That's my subordinate. Well...there's no talking out of this now." Fluttershy could hear the stallion whisper behind her.

Suddenly, Fluttershy collapsed. She felt every muscle give up on her, as she hit the cold floor, unsure of what was exactly happening. She could see Shining armor and the rest of the royal guards rushing towards the cloaked stallion behind her, with swords drawn and spears pointed towards him.

Before Fluttershy fell unconscious, she heard the cloaked stallion yell out before charging towards the guards.

"JUST LIKE OLD TIMES, ROYAL BASTARDS!!!"

_____________________________________________________________

Applejack glanced at the sunrise, illuminating the apple trees in a soft tangerine light. Another day filled with work. That was all that was going in her life now.

Granny Smith has passed couple years ago. The youngest, Applebloom still couldn’t accept her grandmother’s death. Applejack still saw her weeping alone, holding the picture of Granny Smith tight in her hooves. Working, working, and more working. Since the day that apple prices have dropped drastically, the Apple family’s wages dropped with it, leaving Applejack for overwork. Her tired hooves ached constantly, combined with sleepless nights.

Big Macintosh was terminally injured in his back left hoof right after Granny’s funeral, in his part time shift at a construction site. He couldn’t buck apples at the rate he used to be able to. He insisted that he would be better use finding other jobs than pulling the family’s leg in the farm, so he was working in constructions in the day and working under the tables in a bar at night.
Applejack still managed to make enough money for Applebloom’s tuitions, but other than school Applebloom was also working all day long, and sometimes all night. Nothing was stable as it was long ago, along with her own friendship with the others.

Twilight found Applejack, bucking apples with the help of her little sister, Applebloom.

“Thank ya Applebloom. How ‘bout we go back inside for a break?” Twilight heard Applejack chuckle as she saw Applebloom trot ahead of her into the barn.

“Hello Applejack!” Twilight called out. "Hey Applejack!" Spike called out. Applejack froze for a moment, but turned around and gave a rather uneasy smile back at Twilight. “Why howdy there, Twi and Spike! What brings ya here?”

“Oh, I just stopped by to visit. How’s everypony doing?” Twilight glanced up at the barn. The once well-kept barn was covered in cracks and dented. It seemed it was barely staying up.

“Good.” Applejack answered with a bit of sorrow in her tone, as she also glanced up at the barn. “Heh…maybe it’s time for repaint...but sorry Twi, I gotta get to work, those apples don’t buck themselves…now if you’ll excuse me…”

“Applejack...I need your help.” Twilight looked straight into Applejack's eyes.

Applejack gave another obvious faked smile, as she chuckled uneasily. “Oh...sorry Twi, maybe later...”

A brief moment of silence followed after. The two mares glanced towards the sky.

“So…” Twilight broke the awkward silence. She felt like she needed to keep the pace and catch up before asking further for assistance. “How’s Big Mac?”

“Oh he’s doin’ alright.” Applejack kept her answers short and blunt.

“Applejack…” Twilight gave another uneasy look. “Is there something bothering you?” Applejack was nothing like the bright talkative Texan she once was. Ever since she began overworking, Twilight felt like something changed inside the workpony.

When she looked straight into her eyes, she noticed that Applejack’s once bright green iris was replaced with a dull, soulless look in her eye. Every smile she makes, it was obvious that she was faking it.

“Applejack, you’re obviously not getting enough rest. I know you’re quite the worker, but even you can’t keep up with all this…” At this point Twilight was more concerned about Applejack more than the pressing matter at hoof.

Applejack scoffed at that. “Hell I’m gettin’ enough rest alright. Ain’t nothin’ wrong with me, I’m just…”

Something caught Twilight’s eye. A couple feet from Applejack, near the orchard entrance, there were multiple empty containers scattered around, used to store Applecider.

Twilight trotted past Applejack, to the containers. Applejack spun around to see what Twilight found. “Ah…that’s…well, uh…”

As Twilight approached, a slight scent of liquor could be caught. It was still fresh. “It’s not Applecider season…” Twilight sighed. “Been drinking lately, Applejack?” Calculating from the amount, Applejack was drinking quite a lot. Even excessive amounts if divided every day and night. Saving Equestria could wait. Twilight was more concerned for a friend, a friend who must have went through horrible times, and is still doing so.

“Yeah, just a lil’ bit.” Applejack looked away, a trail of sweat slid down her cheek.

“A little bit?” Twilight stepped closer to Applejack, followed by Applejack backing away from Twilight. “Do you call this a little bit? Last time I visited these weren't here.”

“W..well ya know, it’s already been a month…” Applejack stammered, desperately looking for excuses.

“A barrel could last a whole month for a pony.”

“Ah…I wasn't the only one drinking the whole thing…” By this time Twilight had cornered Applejack .

As response to Applejack's excuses, Twilight was growing doubtful more and more as the seconds passed. “First of all, as I mentioned earlier, it’s not Applecider season, and I haven’t heard about any party whatsoever.” Twilight then quickly held a hoof up.

“No, Applebloom is too young to drink, and Big Mac can’t possibly come home during his long shifts and drink a half a barrel or 2, and just jump back in work.”

Twilight decided to stop. She knew cornering her friend and making her talk won't help anything. After making her point, Twilight spoke again, this time with a more soft, caring tone. “Applejack, you’re the element of Honesty. These past years, it feels like…”

“Feels like I changed?” Applejack cut Twilight off. Applejack was still looking down, her hair covering her expression. When she looked up to face Twilight, anger was written all over her face. Her empty eyes were replaced with a vengeful, hate-filled eyes.

“Yeah, I changed. I changed alright. But do ya think I give a Celestia damned fuck about what people would think of me right now? NO!” Applejack stomped her hooves, as she began pacing towards back at Twilight.

“Do ya think I’m doin’ this ‘cause I want to? Do you think I’m already over losin’ granny?”

Tears were pouring from the workpony’s eyes, as she pushed back the lavender unicorn. “Twi, ‘honestly’ I think you stick yer’ muzzle into otherpony’s problems too much. Go mind your own problem! Oh wait, you can’t, YOU DON’T HAVE ONE.”

"Applejack....!" Spike growled at Applejack as he approached her, but Twilight cued her to stop. "Spike...no...this is between Applejack and I." Applejack just kept intently staring at Twilight, ignoring Spike.

Twilight looked like she was going to say something, but Applejack didn’t allow her. “No, don’t ya dare say ‘but you’re my friend, and we can solve the problem together’ or sumthin.” Applejack mocked Twilight’s voice, with obvious sarcasm crammed into it. “This is my problem, and you ain’t bringin’ your “magic” into it.

With that said, Applejack turned her back on the now-speechless ‘friend’. “I don’t think I want you here right now.” Twilight stood there, trying to make a point, but anything she tried to say, ended up as just Twilight looking away. Shock came before regret. She felt as if her heart had been ripped out of her chest.

“Well?” Applejack glared at Twilight. “What are you waitin’ for? Leave!”

Twilight silently turned around and trotted away. Spike took a couple moments staring right into Applejack's eyes without saying anything. Applejack backed up and trotted back into the barn. She could easily tell what Spike was trying to say just by the look in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Spike." She muttered before slamming the door shut.

"'I'm sorry'? Is that all you have to say? After what Twilight offered to you?" Spike could feel rage boiling inside of him. "Don't you dare apologize to me..." He stomped on the dirt beneath him, shaking the ground slightly and making a small crater in the shape of his feet. "APOLOGIZE TO TWILIGHT!" He boomed at the torn-down barn.

Applejack put her back against the shut door, as tears streamed down her face.

Author's Note

So I ask myself; "When are you going to watch season 4, fool?" I just can't get myself to watch it. I'm not sure if that might make the entire story sound a little outdated.