The night was young at Sweet Apple acres. The trees swayed softly in the gentle evening breeze as the sun started to set. The sound of sleeping animals polluted the farm's atmosphere, creating a pleasant calmness amongst anything near.
A couple of voices interrupted the harmonic tune of the wind and snoring as two ponies trotted past an old chicken roost; it was falling to bits.
"Ah' can't wait for tomorrow!" the youngest exclaimed, "the lines gonna be huge! I'm gonna-"
A gentle hoof covered the filly's mouth. She smiled and said: "Okay Big Mac, I know, I mustn't get myself so worked up until the day it happens."
Big Macintosh imitated Applejacks smile, saying nothing like he usually does, ruffling his sisters mane in a friendly way. He knew how important cider season was for the young filly. Because she was too young, a lot of the tasks on the farm were too much for the gal although she was nearly there. Cider season was the one true event where Applejack would have her own part to play: the trigger puller. The young filly always told herself, if there was nopony to pull it, then nopony would get cider, and that's that.
Suddenly, the air grew bitterly cold, causing the young ponies to huddle together like a flock of penguins. Big Mac put his arms around his sister to keep her warm; AJ's coat was thinner than his, plus he would always put others before himself. That's one of the things an Apple lived by.
"Come on you two! You'll catch a chill in your head to your tail in no time if you start dilly dallying out here!" a slightly shaky voice emitted from the farm house behind them.
On the door step, Granny Smith stood, one arm around herself for warmth, the other shaking on the cold ground.
"Quickly, you'll catch a chill!" she repeated again.
Applejack and her brother made their way to the farm house, still close together.
Their skin experienced a slight tingly feeling as it was exposed to warm air from the previous cold. Entering the cosy farmhouse felt like bliss. The lights were making the place look inviting as well as the open fire blazing in the fireplace. AJ and Big Mac sat down next to an old, oak table, engraved with various apples, scattered around. The filly placed her head upon it's decorated surface, closing her eyes as she soaked in the pleasing heat...
CLONK!
Applejack quickly sat upright in alarm. She rubbed her eyes tiredly as they focused upon a glass bottle that her Granny had just placed there. The orange earth pony's eyes widened as she stated, "Your not gonna make me have it this time."
The glass bottle contained a purple liquid that seemed to swim around the glass walls of the bottle. An old worn down label, it's words hardly visible, read: Health Syrup.
Granny Smith's eye brows raised as she lifted three mugs out of a nearby cupboard. She gently placed them on the table, looking at her granddaughter afterwards.
"You don't have a choice," she replied, undoing the bottle's lid.
The filly started to sulk. She hated the stuff; it tasted like sour apple juice. The girl didn't even know why she had to have it, she was as healthy as a lettuce leaf. But Granny Smith had always said that there is not much harm in taking precautions here and there.
The liquid poured down each mug like super thick treacle. Bubbles formed around the liquid's surface, a white froth forming. It looked undrinkable and from AJ's view, it looked lethal.
Big Macintosh lifted his mug and glugged down every single drop. Granny Smith soon copied, both leaving their mugs on the table.
Applejack pushed her mug away from herself, stubbornly.
"Ah' am not drinking that stuff."
Her brother knocked the mug back into her direction, "Eeyup,"
Applejack turned her nose at it, like the stubborn filly she was and shook her head, "That stuff is never getting past these lips, even if it's the last thing ah' do," she said, forcefully.
The elderly mare thought for a moment before smiling in a cunning way.
"So you don't want to take part in the season tomorrow hmm? Fair enough."
Granny Smith started to pick up the mug, hesitating on purpose.
Applejack's eyes widened, " Wait! Ah' do want to take part in tomorrow!"
Granny Smith carried on lifting the mug up, seemingly in a teasing way.
Applejack put her hooves on her face. She knew Granny Smith was playing with her. The filly knew she could be stubborn too, another factor for which AJ looked up to her elder. The orange pony thought she ought to respect her elders a bit more like Granny Smith said. A respectful pony was a helpful pony was her motto. Or was it?
"Fine, I'll drink the darn thing," Applejack finally gave in. She took the mug and stared at the purple glob that lay on the bottom of it's ceramic walls. She immediately felt like throwing up as the mug came closer and closer to the filly's lips.
Down when the slime, slippering and sliddering down Applejacks throat, until none remained.
"Bleargh!" she complained, coughing and spluttering; she obviously didn't like it.
Granny Smith chuckled, "Oh stop over dramatising Applejack!"
The filly looked up at her grandmother, cheeks as red as roses. Big Macintosh ruffled his sister's mane again before standing up, proud and tall.
"It's a big day tomorrow! Off to bed!"
Applejack refused her Grandmother's request, sulking.
"Seriously young mare, you seem a lot more-"
Granny Smith stopped herself, stepping back a tad. She would of wobbled backwards if Big Mac wasn't behind her.
"Granny? What's wrong?" the colt asked, looking at his elder with concern.
Granny Smith balanced herself again, nodding her head.
"Ah'm fine, fine, off to bed! The both of ya's!"
Applejack hesitantly stomped up the stairs, obviously checking to see if her grandmother was alright, closely followed by her big brother.
A quick green hoof forced the colt to a sudden holt, leaving the filly to travel to her sleeping place on her own, oblivious that Big Mac was still downstairs.
Granny Smith led him to sit down with her in the living room. He could feel his granny tremble with every hoof step. She looked into his eyes, deep into their green depths.
"It's time..."
