Chapters "GRANNY SMITH!!!" Applebloom exclaimed as the elder earth pony mare collapsed. Applebloom didn't know what was going on, all she knew was that she had to get help, and the first two that she thought to get was her siblings who were currently out applebucking. "Sweetie Belle, you stay an' keep an eye on Granny while Scoootaloo an' ah get help. Scootaloo, you go in town an' get somepony who can help. Ah'll get Applejack an' Big MacIntosh." She was frantic, all she knew was that something was wrong. As she and the orange pegasus ran out of the clubhouse, they barely saw the hyperactive pink pony they bumped into, who was carrying a couple plates of cupcakes meant for them. "SORRY!" Applebloom exclaimed without looking to see who it was, "WE'RE IN A RUSH!" The poofy-maned, pink party planning pony puzzledly pondered prior to picking up the pink-frosted pastries of why they could be pressed for time, but politely shrugged it of and proceeded to prance playfully inside.
It was a few minutes after the two fillies decided to split up, and Scootaloo, who was riding her trademark scooter, was halfway to Ponyville. She had to find someone, and quick, but who? Who would possibly be able to help? Suddenly, a hasty idea began to form in the pegasus's mind, Dash could help! She's the best flyer in Equestria, what can't she do? Plus, her house is halfway between here and Ponyville! She pushed herself to go even faster than she was already going, causing her to occasionally lose balance on her scooter. Soon enough, she saw her idol's Laputan home. "DASH!" She yelled, hoping the cyan mare was home, "DASH, PLEASE ANSWER!!" A short while later, the groggy, multicolor-maned pegasus stepped out rubbing her eyes, "yawn That you Squirt? What's the matter?" "IT'S GRANNY SMITH! SHE JUST COLLAPSED!"
A FEW MINUTES EARLIER
Applebloom and Scootaloo recently split up, and Applebloom was hurriedly searching for her familials. "No...no..no,no,no,no!" Wherever she turned, she couldn't see the two ponies she was looking for, only trees. "Where could they be?" The young filly wondered. It wasn't long until she saw a particular pet providing a way to find the two hardworking farmfolk, "WINONA!" Applebloom exclaimed as she called the convenient canine, "WHERE'S APPLEJACK AN' BIG MACINTOSH?!" Winona could sense the fear in Applebloom's voice and immediately ran in the direction she came from, stopping only to check if the frightened filly was following. "WAIT FER ME!!"
MEANWHILE
The hot, unrelenting sun beamed down, and two work weary harvesters were just finishing up the day's work by hauling their crop back from the orchard. As they walked, one of the two, an orange mare, wiped her brow and commented, "Hey, Big MacIntosh?" The red stallion only responded by looking in her direction. "Ah know we gotta deliver these here apples back to the barn, but since we got all today's work done, ah was wonderin' if'ns we might take a quick rest from the heat?" The mare continued, slightly overheated by the sun. "Eeyup." The reserved stallion replied to his sister. "Thank you kindly Big MacIntosh, jus' let me set this cart down an'-" "APPLEJACK!! BIG MACINTOSH!!" A young voice cried out, stopping the very notion of relaxation in the shade. "Now what in the hay could it be!?" Said a slightly agitated Applejack. Soon, a young filly with a bow in her mane following Applejack's faithful pet appeared before them, trying to catch her breath. "What is it Sugarcube?" The cowpony asked her kin. "SOMETHIN'S pant HAPPENED wheeze TO GRANNY!!!" This news weighed down heavily on Applejack; ever since the incident that claimed her parents' lives, Granny Smith had been looking after her, her older brother, and her younger sister, making sure that they had as good of a foalhood as she could provide them. "Big MacIntosh," Applejack had finally said, "drop everythin', we need to be as swift as, well, me durin' last year's rodeo, remember?" The stallion only responded with his ever-so-reliable "Eeyup" that always seemed to speak more volumes than any type of lengthy speech or lecture.