I woke up late in the day.

“Huh, I guess I must've slept in. I wonder what Twilight, Nyx, and Spike are up to?”

I got up, put my armor back on, and walked up the stairs. When I got to the dining room I saw Nyx sitting at the table having a simple daffodil sandwich.

If they’re like horses, then how are they able to eat daffodils? Unless they have some evolutionary traits that allow them to eat those flowers, I can’t even see how they can eat them without getting some sort of health problems. Oh well, better not to try and think about it for now.

“Hey Nyx, where’s Twilight?” I asked.

“Oh, hi Garen, she left to…” The ground started to shake before she could finish what she was saying.

“Stay here, I’m going to go out and see what’s going on.” I said while going out the door of the library.

“Stampede,” I heard somepony call out, whom I assumed was Rainbow.

I looked over at the horizon and saw a herd of cattle stampeding towards Ponyville. I watched as ponies were running all over the place in total panic.

Seriously, don’t they have some sort of evacuation procedure that will let them evacuate the town in a calm and orderly fashion?

I watch as ponies continued to scramble in different directions in complete panic.

“Well, I guess I’m going to have to figure something out to stop this stampede without harming anyone, assuming that these cows are also sentient.”

That was when I saw Applejack and her dog Winona coming by the stampede. It was obvious what they were about to do, but I decided to watch and see how she would deal with the situation. I could hear her friends along with the other townsfolk cheering as she was making her way to the head of the herd. I watched as she eventually got close to the head of the herd and brought out a rope which I had no idea where it came from.

“Wha… how? Okay that just makes no sense.”

I watched as she lassoed the neck of the lead cow and pull it to the right, causing the rest of the herd to follow suit.

“Okay, where’d she get that rope from and how did she have it in a lasso already.” I said to no one in particular.

After the disaster was averted, I went over to Twilight and her friends who were with the mayor.

“Yeehaw, ride ‘em cowpony,” I heard Pinkie Pie say.

“Applejack was just… just…”

“Appletastic!!”

“…Exactly. We must do something to thank Applejack for singlehoofingly saving the town.”

“I know…

“… a party.”

Everypony was working hard on setting up for the celebration. It took about a week to set up, but it seemed that everypony was excited. I couldn’t help but admire their determination as well as the decorations they used as they set up for this special occasion.

“Wow, you ponies definitely don’t hesitate on setting up for a celebration,” I said, impressed with how quickly these ponies have set up for the event.

“Awww, that’s kind of you to say that,” I heard one of the townsponies say.

I walked around until I found Twilight with her friends at the town square.

“I see that all of the preparations all done.” I said, still impressed at how they had set up for the occasion.

“Well, we had to do something to thank Applejack for saving the town.” Twilight said.

“And I find the décor rather nice.” Rarity chimed in.

“Where’s Applejack anyway?” I asked.

“I couldn’t find her anywhere.” Rainbow Dash replied.

“Well, I just hope she isn’t doing something that’s too much to for her to handle.” I said, not even knowing that that is what she is doing.

Everypony had gathered as we got started. I was standing off to the side with Nyx over my shoulders as we watched the procession go on. Twilight came up to the podium to start off.

“Welcome everypony, and Garen, today we are here to honor a pony we can always count on to help on matters great and small.” She flipped one of the flashcards to continue, “A pony whose contributions to…”

“Did you see Applejack’s slick moves out there, what an athlete.” Rainbow Dash interrupted as she flew down to the podium, causing Twilight to drop her flashcards. I could help but chuckle at what just happened as she continued, and I think I heard some giggling coming from Nyx, “This week she’s going to help me with a new flying trick. And I know that it’s going to be so awesome.”

“Exactly,” Twilight said as she pushed her friend to the side as she tried to continue her speech, “And…”

This time it was Pinkie Pie who interjected as she popped up in front of Twilight at the podium, “This week I get to run Sugarcube Corner for the first time.”

That had me confused, and it seemed that Twilight was as well as she asked, “What does that have to do with Applejack?”

Pinkie Pie blinked twice before responding, “Oh, Applejack, one of the best bakers ever, is going to help me. Applejack makes everything great, so free samples for EVERYPONY.” She announced as she finish her statement. All of the townsfolk began to cheer as she stepped down from the podium.

“Okay that’s great…” Twilight said as she shoved Pinkie out of the way so she could continue, “Now if I could just make a point without being inter…”

She was interrupted again as Fluttershy came up to add something. Frustrated, Twilight dropped all of her flashcards and let her friend make her announcement.

“Twilight I’m so sorry, but I just wanted to mention that Applejack is also helping me this week with the official bunny census,” Fluttershy announced. She continued on for a little bit about the little rabbits, but I didn’t pay attention as I was trying very hard not to laugh at the fact that Twilight wasn’t being able to finish her speech. I could still hear Nyx giggling as she too tried to keep herself from laughing

As she was finish, Twilight asked if anyone wanted to add anything else. When she had gotten no response, she brought up her flashcards again. She didn’t get to have her speech as the mayor was standing next to her with the look asking that she finish the ceremony. Twilight scattered all of her flashcards and stormed off as the mayor finished off the ceremony, causing Nyx and I to start laughing. We stopped as the mayor came up to the podium to present the award.

“Ahem, so it’s with no further adieu. It is my privilege to give the prized pony of Ponyville award to our beloved guest of honor, a pony of the upmost trustworthiness, reliability, and integrity. Ponyville’s most capable and dependable of friends, Applejack.”

Everypony cheered as the mayor finished and the curtains pulled open. However, the cheering stopped when the curtains revealed nopony there. There was an awkward silence among the crowd until a familiar voice called out. I along with all of the fellow townsponies looked to see Applejack walking among the crowd while carrying two baskets of apples. Since I could see over all of the other ponies, I noticed that Applejack looked like she went a few days without sleep.

“Oh, this can’t be good,” I said to myself as Applejack made her way to the podium.

“Miss Mayor, thank you kindly for this here… award thingy,” Applejack said. She yawned as she added, “It’s so bright and shiny.” She laughed a little as she looked at her reflection. She soon started to act like she had a few too many drinks, though that’s what it looks to me from my experience back on Reach.

“Umm, is Applejack okay?” Nyx asked, no doubt wondering what was going on with Applejack.

I turned to her and responded, “I’m not sure, but I think she hasn’t gotten any rest over the course of the week. By the looks of things, she might even be ready to pass out.”

“I sure hope that she’s okay.”

I nodded as we looked back toward Applejack as she started to head off with the trophy. There was still an awkward silence as she dragged it with her.

The silence was broken as Twilight said, “Was it just me, or did Applejack seem a little…”

Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Rarity gave their own opinions to finish Twilight’s statement. Tough it seemed that Pinkie Pie didn’t have any problems with how Applejack was acting.

“From the looks of things, I think she hasn’t been getting any rest during the week.” I pointed out.

“Well I’m going to check up on her.” Twilight said as she headed off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

“Alright Twilight, we’ll see you back at the library.” I called out as I took Nyx with me to the library.

Twilight came back after her visit with Applejack. She had told me that Applejack was doing something called Applebucking Season, whatever that is.

“Well, I don’t think we should bother her. But I have a very bad feeling about this.” I told her.

The next morning Twilight and I headed up to the balcony. As we got there, I balance myself on my back on the guardrail.

“Isn’t that a little dangerous?” Twilight asked as she set a book down in front of her.

“Heh, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me,” I said as I relaxed. “It’s not like I haven’t done anything dangerous. I know what I’m doing. The only way I could fall is if someone pushes me or crashes into me. Plus I’m still wearing my armor, so it’ll take most of the impact.”

A few hours passed by as Twilight continued on her reading and while I continued with my nap. That was when we heard somepony screaming. I opened my eyes slowly to see Rainbow Dash on a collision course towards me.

“Oh Fu…AACK!” I yelled as I toppled off the guardrail and onto the balcony floorboards.

“Can I help you?” Twilight asked.

“I think somepony else needs your help.”

“Applejack,” Twilight and I said at the same time. That was when Nyx came to see what was going on.

“Everything’s fine Nyx, just get back to what you’re reading.” I said as I got back up. Luckily I fell onto the balcony and not down to the ground. I’m pretty sure that I would’ve had some nasty injuries if I had fallen off the balcony.

“I’ll go and check up on Applejack.” Twilight said as she picked up all of her books and went inside.

“I’m coming with you,” I said as I walked with her.

It took us a while before we found Applejack.

“Applejack, can we talk?”

Applejack looked like she was in a daze as she tried to answer. “Can bees’ squawk, ah don’t think so.”

Oh dear lord, I think she screwed up her hearing. I thought to myself as I couldn’t help but shake my head. I am certain that

“No, can we talk?”

“Twenty stalks, Bean or celery?”

I couldn’t help but face-palm as Twilight tried to talk to her.

“No, I want to talk to you.”

“You need to walk to the zoo? Well who’s stopping you?”

“I need to talk to you!” Twilight yelled, trying to get her friend to hear what she was saying.

Finally, Applejack was able to get what Twilight was trying to say. But I have a feeling that her hearing might still be screwed up. And I’m pretty sure that it’s from the lack of sleep that she’s been having by constantly bucking the apple trees.

“… What’d you want to talk about?”

“Rainbow dropped in to see me today.”

“That’s quite neighborly of her.”

Oh jeez, if they’re going to have to keep yelling I’m going to get a headache.

“Yes, except she crashed onto my balcony…”

“And into me,” I chimed in.

“… after you launched her into the air,” Twilight finish.

“Oh, yeah,” Applejack said as she held her head low, “I wasn’t feeling quite myself this morning.”

“Because you’re working too hard and you need HELP!”

“What, kelp. Ah don’t need kelp. Ah don’t even like seaweed.”

Oh for… she definitely screwed up her hearing. I couldn’t help but face-palm.

“HELP! YOU NEED HELP!” Twilight screamed.

“Nothin’ doin’ Twilight. Ah’m going to prove to you, to everypony, that ah can do this on my own,” Applejack said as she walked into a low branch, “Oww, Now if you’ll excuse me, ah’ve got to go help Pinkie Pie.”

Twilight and I watched as Applejack went to Sugarcube Corner.

“This is not going to end well,” I warned.

“Let’s just hope that she doesn’t end up causing any more problems.” Twilight responded.

“Should I go and follow her?” I asked as I looked down at the unicorn.

“No, I think she should be fine.”

“Well if you ask me, I think Applejack had impaired her hearing.” I said as we headed back to the library.

Sometime after we came back, somepony came and told us something bad had happened at the bakery. Twilight and Spike raced off towards the library while I stayed behind to watch over Nyx.

“What do you think happened?” She asked.

“I’m not sure. But I have a feeling that its Applejack related. Considering that she was heading off to help Pinkie Pie with some baking.”

“Oh, umm, do you think that they’re okay?” Nyx asked, clearly worried.

“If I can leave a guess. I think that they’re going to be sick for a while.”

“Th-that’s bad right?”

All I could do was nod as I continued to look out the window.

“Why don’t you go back to reading one of the books in the library. I’m going to go find Twilight. I’m pretty sure that she’s on her way over to Sweet Apple Acres… again.”

I walked out of the library and went to find Twilight.

It was not long until I found Twilight. I noticed that Spike was not with her so I asked where he was.

“He went back to the library. I guess you didn’t pass by him.”

“I guess so. Let’s see if we can talk some sense into Applejack. You and I, along with all of your other friends, know that she is definitely not okay.”

“Yeah well, let’s just hope see that she gets her stubbornness out of the way. Speaking of which, there she is right now.”

We came up to her just as she had emptied a cartful of apples into a barrel, though I don’t think that you’re supposed to have the cart in the barrel as well. And it looked like she had once again fallen asleep.

“Applejack, we need to talk.”

Startled, the farm pony woke up, “Wha, huh, oh it’s you Twilight, and Garen. I know what you’re gonna say, but the answer is still no.”

“Not to upset your applecart, but you need help,” Twilight reasoned.

“And some sleep,” I added.

Unfortunately, she was still not accepting our help, even with getting her cart out of the barrel. We simply watched as she eventually got her cart out of the barrel.

“Ah’ll prove… that this apple… can handle these apples.” Applejack said as she tried to buck apples down from a dead tree.

“Um Aj, I think you’re beating a dead… tree.”

Oh lord have mercy, this has got to be the most stubborn of all these ponies. I thought to myself as I held the bridge of my nose in irritation.

“Ah knew that,” with that Applejack walked off to do some more of her work. We followed not too far behind, though I was beginning to think that this was going to be pointless.

Once again, Twilight tried to get Applejack to accept our help, but of course she refused.

“Ugh, that pony is as stubborn as a mule.”

And just like that, we heard one right behind us.

“No offense,” Twilight apologized.

“None taken,” the mule replied.

Where did he even come from? Was he there just for convenience sake?

We came back to Ponyville to find that everypony was on the ground.

“The horror, the horror,” one of the ponies said.

“It was awful,” another called out.

“A disaster. A horrible horrible disaster,” another pointed out.

We tried to see what the problem was but couldn’t see anything troubling. We soon found out what was wrong when we saw little rabbits roaming around the town. They were eating all of the plants while Fluttershy tried to get them to leave.

“I think I’ll help Fluttershy. You should probably go get some sense into that stubborn pony’s head before she causes any more trouble.” I told Twilight. She nodded and headed off to Sweet Apple Acres while I raced to help gather all of the bunnies. Did I just say that?

It took us a while to get the little guys back to where they belong. It was not long before we had gotten word that Twilight had finally gotten through to Applejack about letting us help.

Spike, Fluttershy and I went over to the farm to see what we could do while Nyx stayed at the library. We were all working at the orchard getting all the apples stored away. As we were finished, Applejack brought out a tray of apple juice for us.

“Girls -and guy- Ah can’t thank you enough for this help. Ah was acting a bit stubborn.”

“A bit,” Twilight interjected.

“Okay, a might stubborn,” Applejack corrected herself, “And ah’m awful sorry. Now, ah know that the town had given me the prized pony award. But the real award, is having you five as my friends.”

“What, you don’t think that I’m your friend?” I mocked.

“No, but you did help. Ah didn’t realize that you coulda done some of the things that Big Mac could do. Then again, ah guess you are built for that, especially since you’re a soldier and all.”

I gave her a nod as I lifted my drink while everypony else brought their mouths to their straws. We all drank our drinks, which tasted far better than anything I’ve ever had on Reach. Just like all of the other stuff that they have to eat and drink, even though they’re mostly pastries and vegan foods.

“Whew, applebucking sure made me hungry,” Rainbow dash said.

“And I’ve got the perfect treat,” Spike said as he brought out what looked like muffins, though I don’t think they’re supposed to look like that. Nor are they supposed to have worms in them. I was so glad that I didn’t go to Sugarcube Corner today.

“Ew Spike, I threw those away. Where did you get them?”

“From the trash.”

We were all grossed out. I on the other hand was trying very hard not to vomit in front of my pony friends. That would probably not sit well with them.

We went off to get something ‘edible’ to eat while Spike tried to get us to try the muffins. I swear, if I ate one of those things, my insides would be all screwed up.

Author's Note

At last, I've finally gotten the next chapter out after have procrastinated over the time since the last one. I do apologize for that and I hope that you can forgive me. It may take a little longer for me to get stories out since I'm now starting my classes at the college I'm going to, so there's that. I'd like to leave personal matters out of this for there is no need. I would still like to apologize to you guys again for taking so long. Let me know what you guys think. I was actually thinking of not doing this chapter, but then I thought that you guys might want to know what my character was doing while all the shenanigans were going on with Applejack and her friends during applebucking season. It actually proved to be far more difficult, and fun, than when I did the other chapters. And it was mostly the fact that I had to go through certain parts of the episode to get what some of the ponies were saying while also adding bits of my own. Just to be clear once more, Nyx belongs to PenStroke. Though she might not be playing much of a major role right now, but she will in the future.