The Equinid (Undetermined Prologue)

Appleloosa was described as many things: Boomtown, frontier town, mining town, farming town, and a multitude of other things. It was a fairly young town, founded about thirty years ago. However, as small desert towns go, it was ancient; this was due to the fact that when boomtowns in the desert would lose their business and be abandoned, the former inhabitants would often flock here. Thus Appleloosa's fame was far greater than that of many surrounding towns. Braeburn may have been correct when he said that it would soon "be as well known as Ponyville."

The developing establishment sat between the steep cliff of a massive plateau on one side, and a view of the sprawling dunes and gargantuan stone formations on the other. The entire area was peppered with small patches of cacti, as well as rich red boulders.

However, there was a collection of lush, green hills slightly removed from the cluster of buildings that made up Appleloosa. The orchard was one of the things that set the town apart; this was the only place in the desert that had successfully nurtured and irrigated an area so well that plants grew on it as well as they did back in places like Ponyville. It was the town's pride and joy and the reason behind its name.

It was typical of Braeburn to be here. He had a large part in the upkeep of the orchard, having moved to the town as a young colt. Tending to and harvesting from the orchard had been a job of his since he moved to the bustling village.

At the time that Little Strong Heart was leading seven ponies on the path that cut between the trees, the sun had already begun to set and the entire orchard was bathed in an orange glow.

One of the harvesters hailed Little Strong Heart and trotted up to her.

"Evenin', miss Strong Heart. Braeburn's a couple a rows this way," He pointed a hoof to one of the neat lines of trees.

"Thanks, Jacky. C'mon, follow me," she motioned to the ponies with one of her small hooves.

"Well I don't want to intrude, so I'm gonna go book a room at the inn for myself. It's been a pleasure spending time with all of you; maybe we'll see each other around," Carton held up a hoof as if to wave, and started walking away.

"Bye bye, Carty!"

"Remember 'Rainbow Dash'! You'll see me in the Wonderbolts one day!"

"Take care, sugarcube!"

After he disappeared over the crest of one of the rolling hills that the path ran on, the fillies turned back to the young buffalo.

"You guys just make friends everywhere!" She grinned.

"Of course we do! Everypony is my friend!" Pinkie Pie screeched.

They all entered the line of trees. The going was easy enough; the orchard was maintained so that there were apple trees and apple trees only. There was a flower here and there, but no bushes or any type of desert scrub.

Soon enough, Little Strong Heart held up a hoof without so much as looking back, signifying for the fillies to stop walking and be quiet.

She turned to them. "Alright, wait here for a second, I want to surprise him," she whispered.

Braeburn himself was sitting on the ground, his back to an apple tree and his hat pulled over his eyes.

"Hey, Braeburn…" Little Strong Heart said in a sing-song voice that none of her mare friends knew she had.

Braeburn sprang to a standing position immediately. "Well hey, Little Strong Heart! How are y'all doin'?" His face was occupied by his typical smile.

"I've got a surprise for you!" She leapt back to the tree the fillies were hiding behind and pulled them out.

His smile grew tenfold and he seemed at a loss for words.

"Cousin Applejack? And alla her friends? What?" he wrapped his forelegs around both Applejack and Little Strong Heart.

"What are y'all doin' here?"

It was easy to forget, with his friendly and at some times goofy demeanor, as well as his average stature, how strong Braeburn was. He had been bucking apples just as long as Applejack, and his grip felt as solid as steel.

"Can- can ya put us down first?" Applejack wheezed.

He dropped them both and fell forward so that he was on all fours again.

"It's jus' so great to have y'all back! An' so soon! The family hardly ever visits!" He chattered excitedly.

"Well, we're here to visit the two a y'all," Applejack said, glancing between the colt and the calf standing before her.

He smiled to Applejack and then Little Strong Heart. "This is great! Ah'll give y'all a tour a the town tomorrow!"

Applejack's friends were preparing to deliver excuses to miss it, but were silenced by a glare from the orange farm filly.

She turned her head back to smile to her cousin with as much enthusiasm as she could muster. "Aheh. Sounds, uh… mighty fun!"

"Darn right it does! Here; Ah can get y'all checked into the inn fer less than most folks," He grabbed one of Applejack's hooves and started pulling her towards the town.

"I'm going to go back to the tribal grounds then," Little Strong Heart said, "I shouldn't stay out too late…"

"Nonsense! Come right along with us, an' Ah'll walk ya back!" Braeburn offered.

"I don't want you to go out of your way-"

"Ah insist; Ah don't want you walkin' all the way back by yerself!"

"Okay, okay," Little Strong Heart gave in.

"Great! Then let's get goin'!" Braeburn bounded ahead, but then slowed down, remembering that he had a following.

Dash chuckled as they trailed him. "Your cousin is totally weird, AJ." She whispered.

"Now don't say that; he's just excited," Applejack defended. "Wouldn't you be excited if yer family came ta town?"

Dash looked away and muttered something to herself.

"What'd ya say?" Applejack asked.

"Nothin'," Dash responded.

"He is such a gentleman, though, isn't he? Offering to accompany Little Strong Heart all the way back to her tribe? Such chivalry!" Rarity interjected.

"Ya got the hots for AJ's cousin, Rarity?" Dash laughed.

"Of course not! It's no surprise that your one-track mind would assume such things, however," Rarity accentuated her point by turning her head upwards and giving a "hmph!".

"You callin' me dumb?"  Dash's eyes narrowed.

"Darling, that isn't what one implies when they say 'one track mind'," the white unicorn responded.

"Oh. Well, uh, good!" Dash said.

Rarity rolled her eyes. "I'm going to need a shower when we get there."

"I think we should all take some time to relax; some of us seem a little on edge," Twilight suggested.

"Sure. All that cart pullin' made me tired. Plus I missed my nap," Dash yawned.

The small group made their way through the quickly darkening orchard. It had been a long day, and the twinkling light of candles and kerosene lamps made them all aware of how tired they were.