In the Canterlot royal castle, the beloved ruler Princess Celestia was sick. She had come down with a nasty case of the flu and felt miserable. She was stuck in bed coughing and sneezing up a storm. The royal doctor had stopped by to check on her. He said with Celestia being ill she wouldn't be able to raise the sun.
It was then, the ailing alicorn heard a loud sound. Looking up, she discovered it was her sister, Princess Luna. "Luna," yawned Celestia, "What are you doing here?"
"We are sorry if we woke you," said Luna, "Its just the sun is coming up and we came to ask you if we could--"
Celestia shot up from her bed and shouted, "It’s morning already?"
"Well, almost," said Luna in a soft voice lowering her head, "But we just thought maybe we could raise the sun for you."
"Luna," Said Celestia in a soft voice, "Its my royal duty to raise the sun, much like it is yours to bring out the moon at night."
"But-"
"It's they way things always has been, you understand. Right?"
"Yes, we know," said Luna, "But thou art still ill."
"Luna," said Celestia trying to get out of bed, "I'm fine."
"But sister."
Before Celestia could say anything, she let out a loud sneeze.
"Thou doesn't seem fine to me," said Luna as she started to glare at her sister, "Does thou not trust me to raise the sun?"
"Its not that I don't trust you dear sister," sniffed Celestia as she used her magic to levitate a tissue. She blew her nose creating a noise that made Luna flinch slightly. "I'm just worried about you, that's all."
Luna pouted, "Thou doesn't trust me."
"Aren't you a little to old to be pouting?" asked Celestia raising an eyebrow at her sister.
"Aren't thou a little too old to be so stubborn?" replied Luna, "At least we act our age."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"Thou art is least one thousand years older then me," Said Luna, "Thou should act thy proper age."
"At least I don't pout,” muttered the sick princess.
"At least we don't wear curlers to bed," remarked Luna pointing a hoof at her sister’s mane. Luna was right. Her sister’s mane contained several bright pink curlers.
"Getting this flowing mane takes a while," replied Celestia pointing at he curlers.
"Then why doesn't thou curl it?" Asked Luna crossing her hooves.
Celestia’s eyes widened knowing what a monumental task curling her mane would be. "That takes forever!" She asserted with a cough.
"Then get one of the royal servants to do it."
"I still have to raise the sun you know," remarked Celestia changing the subject.
"Well, this thou doesn't today maybe--"
"Luna!" Barked Celestia a hint of anger in her voice, "I'm raising the sun, no questions asked!"
"But-"
"I said none!"
They still didn't stop bickering. Luna still wanted to raise the sun, but Celestia didn't want her to. They argued for what seemed an eternity. The two guards outside Celestia's room were covering their ears trying to drown out the noise of their arguing.
"Did they argue like this when they were fillies?" asked the one guard.
"I have a feeling that they did," muttered the other guard, "Come on, the sun still has to be raised."
The guards nodded in agreement and opened the door barging into the princess’s chambers. There they saw the two princesses were still arguing.
"Princess Luna, " Called one of the guards, "If you want to raise the sun, it better be on time, and you better hurry up!"
"Right," Said Luna, "we are sorry dear sister."
"What?!" said Celestia in a surprised voice, "You two knew about this?"
"We sort of came up with the idea." answered one of the guards.
Celestia gave each guard a narrow look. "Does somepony need to go to the moon?"
"Huh? No need to talk like that," said one of the guards, "Just, you were feeling under the weather and we thought maybe Luna could raise the sun for you."
"And we thought, since you’re getting older that..." The other guard stopped and saw that Luna was shaking her head, "uh..."
"What were you going to say?!" spoke Celestia in an angry voice.
"How about them Wonderbolts?" Said Luna trying to change the subject.
"You aren't helping," Said Celestia, "Now, about my age."
"You don't look a day older then 1050." Said the guard.
"Considering the fact you’re actually 1090 years old." Said the other guard
"Don't say that," shouted Luna, "She's very sensitive about her age."
"Oh," said the guard, "sorry about that."
Celestia just glared at him.
"Oh sister," pleaded Luna, "Can we please raise the sun?"
"Luna," Said Celestia as she faced her sister. Her sister was giving her the puppy dog look. Celestia remembered that when they were fillies, Luna used to give her parents that look whenever she wanted something and it usually worked half the time. "Don't use the puppy dog look on me, I used it before you," remarked Celestia.
"But we perfected it," said Luna making her eyes even bigger, "Can we please raise the sun?" The younger sister stood their half pouting to the ill Celestia.
"Ugh," said Celestia as she hung her head in defeat, "Okay, you can."
"Really?" Luna asked as her face started to perk up.
"Yes, but just this once," said Celestia sternly, "understand?"
"Of course," said Luna with a bright smile on her face, "We will not disappoint you." The dark blue alicorn began bouncing around with joy. Her stubborn sister finally gave in.
Luna’s joyful display made her smile. Though she couldn’t help but say, "Remember, be careful."
Luna came to a halt. "We know," she replied in a serious tone.
"Don't get to close to the sun, you might get burned," cautioned Celestia.
"We know."
"Don't forget to fly slow, the sun can't be raised too late or too early," explained Celestia, "It has to happen at just the right time."
"Sister…please, we know. We’ve seen thou do it many times before," remarked Luna.
"I'm just worried about you, that's all," replied Celestia coughing a little.
Luna sighed. She nearly forgot why she was going to raise the sun in the first place. Her dear sister was under the weather. It was only natural for her elder sister to still worry about her. A thoughtful smile formed on Luna’s face. "Sister," she sighed, "We know and we promise we will be careful."
"Pinkie Promise?" asked Celestia raising her eyebrows.
"Pinkie what?" questioned Luna.
"She's one of Twilight's friends, you know they hyper pink one with the curly mane.”
"The one dressed as the chicken screaming all the time at Night Mare Night? Making all of Ponyville hate us, but told us at last minute that she was doing that all for kicks and giggles?" asked Luna in a harsh tone, "that one?" The younger princess’s smile faded and a more annoyed look took its place.
Her elder sister frowned."You're still angry at her for that?" remarked Celestia, a bit surprised, "That happen months ago. I'm quite surprised that your're still mad at her for that."
"A princess can still hold grudges," replied Luna crossing her hooves.
"Was Night Mare Night that bad?"
"Yes."
Celestia sighed fighting the urge to roll her eyes, "You still know what a Pinkie Promise is, right?"
"Of course we do sister. It was thanks to thou reminding us about the pink pony, that helped us remember."
"Then make it."
"Cross my heart," said Luna as she used her hoof to make a cross on her chest, "hope to fly," as she opened up her wings, "stick a cupcake in my eye." as she put her hoof in front of her eye.
"And remember, you can't break it."
"Yes Celestia...we know," sighed Luna, "Can we go now?"
"Of course you can," said Celestia, "Just be safe."
"We will."
"I love you."
"We love you too dear sister," said Luna. She then flew out her sister's window and into the sky ready to raise the sun.
The golden rays of sunlight gleamed through the apple tree leaves across Sweet Apple Acres. The energetic Apple Bloom ran up and bucked her targeted tree with all her might. To her sorrow, only a few leaves rustled and no apples fell. Apple Bloom frowned, feeling saddened. The yellow pony sighed and laid on the ground with dejected look on her face.
"Ah'll never be able to do it," muttered Apple Bloom. She sighed again. “How can Ah be an Apple if Ah don't know how to buck?" The little pony rolled onto her back and stared up at the tree leaves. A nearby sound caught her attention. Apple Bloom glanced over and saw her big brother, Big Macintosh. He was also helping with Applebuck Season. She saw him do a single buck. Big Mac made every single apple fall off the tree. This made Apple Bloom become even sadder.
"Ah'll never be a real Apple," sighed Apple Bloom.
Applejack must have seen the saddened Apple Bloom, because soon she was trotting toward her sister.
"Apple Bloom," said Applejack giving Apple Bloom a slight nudge, "What in tarnation is bothering you little sister? You’re usually so chipper."
Apple Bloom looked at her sister. "Ah'll never be a real Apple."
"What in tarnation are ya talking?" Questioned a confused Applejack, "Ya are an Apple."
Apple Bloom just sighed and ignored her sister.
"And why aren't ya hanging around with ya friends? Ya know, crusading and all."
"Sweetie Belle is with Rarity at the Canterlot Fashion Expo and Scootaloo went with Rainbow Dash to the Wonderbolts show," sighed Apple Bloom.
"Ah still don't understand that ya so sad. Being able to buck doesn't make ya an Apple." said her sister. "Ya can help with carrying the apple baskets."
"It wouldn't be the same."
"What are ya talking about?"
"Ah can't even buck a tree," said Apple Bloom, "How can Ah help with Applebuck Season…if I can’t buck?"
"Ya really want to buck, don't ya?"
"Eeyup." replied Apple Bloom.
"Nothing will change ya mind?"
"Enope."
Her big sister placed a hoof to her chin and thought for a moment. "Don't ya worry about it," said Applejack giving her sister a smile, "When Ah was a filly, Ah couldn't buck either."
"Really?"
"Eeyup," answered Applejack, "Why even Big Mac had trouble bucking when he was a colt. You should have seen us."
"Really?"
"Eeyup, Ah remember pa yelling at Big Mac to get his head out of the clouds and ta pay attention," her sister explained.
The slight mention of pa had made Apple Bloom depressed, she hadn't remembered pa and ma, mostly because they died when she was a filly. All she knew about them was the old pictures of them around the farm and stories that Applejack, Big Macintosh, Granny Smith and the other Apple relatives told her. Whenever she heard those stories or saw those old pictures it made Apple Bloom wish she could have gotten to know them.
Applejack noticed her sister remained sad. She laid down to face her, "Ah'm mighty sorry about that. Ah forgot ya never got to know pa and ma."
"It's fine," lied Apple Bloom, "So how did ya learn how to buck apple trees?"
"Pa thought me," replied Applejack, "But don't worry, Ah'll teach ya." She winked at her little sister and gave her an encouraging smile.
"Really?" asked Apple Bloom perking up. “You will?"
"Eeyup. Course Ah'll will," said Applejack. Then the two sisters stood up. "Now, show me what ya got."
Apple Bloom nodded and with all her might bucked the same tree once again. Sadly, only a few leaves rustled and still no apples fell. The young earth pony hung her head.
"Well Ah know what ya problem is." Noted Applejack placing a hoof under her chin.
"Really? What is it?" asked the now nervous Apple Bloom.
"Ya not using your hind legs enough. That's why no apples are falling," she explained.
Apple Bloom nodded, but the answer left her a little puzzled. "Uh sis… What are ya talking about?" Questioned a confused Apple Bloom.
"Ah mean when ya go to buck, keep all your weight in your hind legs," said Applejack walking up to a tree. She stood before the tree next to the one Apple Bloom had tried to buck. There she got ready to give it a good bucking. "Just watch! Like this!" Applejack bucked the tree with a mighty kick. This caused several apples to fall out on the ground. Her little sister was amazed by the amount of apples that rained out of the tree.
"Okay sis," said Apple Bloom, "Ah think Ah got it."
"Remember about your hind legs," reminded Applejack.
"Don't worry sis," said Apple Bloom. She walked up to the tree. The young pony hoped the third time would be the charm. There she prepared her hind legs, "Ah just go like this!” With all her might, Apple Bloom bucked the tree. This time, several leaves rustled and quite a few apples fell to the ground.
"YEE-AH!!" shouted Applejack, "Nice job there sis!"
"Ah did it!" exclaimed Apple Bloom in total awe of what she had done. "Ah bucked a tree!"
"And Ah'm might proud of ya."
"Ah did it!" exclaimed Apple Bloom with a joyful grin.
"Way to go there little sister!" Congratulated Applejack putting a hoof on her sister's shoulder. “Didn't now ya had in ya."
"Of course Ah did!" asserted Apple Bloom wearing a grin on her face, "Ah'm an Apple, what do ya expect?"
Applejack laughed, "Sorry if Ah ever doubted ya."
"Ya better be."
"Come on little sister," said Applejack, "since ya know how to buck, ya wanna help lend me and Big Macintosh a hoof with Applebuck Season?"
"Of course!" said Apple Bloom with a bright grin on. "Ah'll love to help you and Big Mac!"
"Well then, what’re ya standing around for, come on."
"Yes ma'am."
The two Apple sisters trotted off happy to assist their big brother with the apple harvest.
