Dawn was beginning to crack on Ponyville, but the Apple family was already up and eating a hearty meal. Big Mac was busy wolfing down his bowl of grain cereal while Applejack was stretching herself and prepare her body for a day of hard labor. Apple Bloom was next to her doing the same, though she didn’t seem as happy this morning mainly due to the scolding she had gotten for coming home so late last night. The Apples had heard the commotion coming from town last night but Apple Bloom had told them that some people had begun celebrating the festival early, which also explained the loud firework display coming from there as well.

“I tell ya, this generation just loves to show off their bright lights,” ranted Granny Smith to them as she munched on some toast, “back in my day Celestia herself used the sun to start the celebration, now these young kids think they can do it? Bah!”

“Come on granny, she still does that,” replied AJ,replied AJ “and ya can’t help it if people get anxious, happens every once in a while, isn’t that right Big Mac?” The oldest sibling simply nodded as he had a mouthful of toast. ““Apple Bloom an' I are gonna start on the southern orchard and we’ll meet ya at the northern side, kay?” She and Apple Bloom headed out the door, waving at the other two as they did so, and began heading to the southern orchard when the duo spotted Pinkie Pie and Princess Cadance walking towards their house.

“Morning girls,” greeted Princess Cadance at the two Apple sisters. Her eyes were heavy and had dark circles, her posture, even while standing, seemed off. A small sad frown adorned her face as soon as she took a good look at the youngest sibling, she could feel a magic pulse coming from her that resembled that of the Crystal Heart which meant that Sunset had used the gems she had given the crusaders.

“Uhh… hiya princess, you doing okay there?” Asked Applejack curiously as she stared at her.

“She’s fine,” Pinkie said as she jumped between the two, “she’s just a little sleepy from staying up all night, didn’t you hear the celebration going on? Cadie here was the main attraction.” She grinned rather sinisterly as she looked at the princess.

“Well chucks. Ya’ll didn’t have to come all this way with no sleep, ya coulda just came later in the day.”

Cadance gave her a weak smile, “I assure you that I’m okay, I just have to take it easy.” She shifted uneasily and began looking at the orchard that surrounded them, “we just stopped by to see if you could give us a hand. “

“Oh sure, what can I help ya’ll with?” Applejack was even more curious now, it obviously had to be something important if they’d come to see her after a long night’s party.

“Well, you remember those nice pastries you baked for my wedding? I was wondering if you can whip up some for the festival and we also wanted to see how much you’d be able to supply, you know how Twilight is with details.” She laughed but gave a short sigh, Pinkie had told Cadance what was planned for the earth pony today and wasn’t too happy about it but she was also deadly afraid of what Pinkie would do if she didn’t follow her orders.

“Aww chucks, is that all? Granny Smith can help ya’ll out with that, she’s the one who taught me the recipe after all.” She grinned happily at the two and then continued to make her way to the apple orchard. “Come on Apple Bloom, them apples aren’t going to pick themselves an’ we got a lot of picking to do.” Apple Bloom said nothing and follower her big sister’s footsteps but the duo was stopped once again by Pinkie Pie.

“How about we give you a hand?” She said in a rather annoyed yet cheerful manner, “we can get your job done much faster if we help and I wouldn’t want to disturb Granny Smith if she gets tired.”

“Ah couldn’t ask ya two for help, it might take all day and I wouldn’t want to keep ya’ll away from planning the festival. Besides, a’m sure Granny won’t mind just givin ya the recipe so ya can bake them yerselves back at Sugarcube Corner if ya don’t want to disturb her.”

Pinkie’s face looked as though it was ready to explode, which was normal for her as far as Applejack was concerned, but Cadance took quick notice of this and joined in the plea. “We wouldn’t mind at all helping and with my magic I’m sure I can have this orchard picked in a blink of an eye, all you have to do is tell me where to deposit them.” She smiled, looking eager to help.

“Well… if ya really don’t mind then ah suppose it’s okay. Me, Pinkie and Apple Bloom can set up the carts while ya fill em up.” Applejack’s voice sounded very cheerful since now her work load would be severely reduced.

While Pinkie seemed pleased to hear of this, Princess Cadance looked down at Apple Bloom and thought it would be best to spare her from her sister’s fate even if it was too late for her as well. “I’m sure we can all the work between us three, why not let Apple Bloom have the day off? Surely she would prefer to spend their day with her friends and having a day off every now and then won’t hurt either.” Without waiting for a response she began pushing Apple Bloom back towards the barn. “Go on, off you go.” She told her.

“But… a’m supposed to be grounded.” She replied.

“I’m sure that can wait for another day, now go with your friends.” Cadance stopped pushing Apple Bloom and shooed her away, she gave the princess a rather confused look but continued walking forward. “Alright Applejack, where would you like to start first?”

Applejack wasn’t sure what to say at first but continued moving to guide the duo to their starting spots. “Ah’m not sure how granny’s going to feel once she finds out that Apple Bloom’s not grounded for today, she was mighty worried about her last night and wasn’t too happy at how late she came.”

“She was with us,” quickly said Pinkie Pie, “I asked her to help me with some of the fireworks from last night and I might have lost track of time.”

“That so? She didn’t mention anything bout helping ya’ll out last night.”

“Well… we just didn’t want to get her in trouble about using fireworks so we asked her to not say anything,” replied Cadance as the trio now began heading into the apple orchard, “but I guess that didn’t really work out, huh?”

“Ah wouldn’t have minded that had I known she was handling them responsibly with you two.” Applejack began to give the princess a weird look, “Are ya two feeling okay? Ya’ll been acting stranger than a squirrel. Ah appreciate the offer to help but it might be best if ya two go to sleep, especially with all the planning ya’ll have to do. I’m gonna go and get Apple Bloom, ya’ll go get some shut eye, ‘kay?” She didn’t even get two steps in before Pinkie slid in front of her.

“Bitch, I said we’re fine!” She yelled out. “Now prepare that sweet ass of yours, I’ve been looking forward to it all day!” Pinkie leaped into the air and pounced her friend, pinning her to the ground and tore her flannel shirt open.

"What in tarnation are ya doin pinkie!" Screamed the farm pony as she tried to wrestle her friend off. Though she easily had the strength to subdue Pinkie, the last think Applejack wanted to do was hurt the pony. "Come to yer senses sugarcube, ah don't want to..." Her head began to hurt a lot, everything started going blurry and out of focus. Looking next to them she saw Princess Cadance, who's eyes were filled with tears as she was using her magic. "... princess?" was all that she managed to say before collapsing on top of Pinkie Pie.

Author's Note

I still hated writing AJ dialogue, hopefully I did an okay job at it.