Star Wars: Power of the Dark Side
Interlude Chapter - The Great Hunt

Applejack stood, proud and true. Overlaying her work, with a critical eye.

She had just finished harvest and nothing could have filled her with enough pride. Nothing could bring her close the reverie of finishing their harvest early. She smiled and muttered to herself, "Damn fine work Applejack."

Emerald bare trees that would soon fall with the coming of autumn, where red will once again fill the treetops, until they will finally decide to die and the leaves will drift to the ground. It was all a cycle, and Applejack had finished her part earlier than what was expected. She usually never is this early but something must be different this year. Things must be finally coming around for Applejack.

She stood facing the orchard that had been passed down to her from generation to generation of the Apples, another thing that brought her pride. She loved her friends but nothing beats the great feeling of having your family at beckon call. Well, maybe not beckon call but she had reassurance that her family had her back.

She took in a large breath of air and watched as the early afternoon air and sun beamed high and surprisingly dry, and it was from this prospect alone that she deserved a cup of their famous apple cider. The freshly squeezed apple juice soothing her dry throat as it made its way down. A satisfying 'Ah' easily escaped her lips, with little reflex against it. A well deserved drink indeed.

She felt a pat on her shoulder and the noble voice of her brother, happily surmising, "Well, you did it Applejack."

Applejack turned to her red shaded brother and replied with a smile, "Eeyup, and you doubted me?"

Big Mac offered happily, "I never doubted you I just did not expect you to finish this early."

Applejack smiled again as she watched Big Mac, hunker down into one of the rocking chairs on their porch, "You and me both big fella."

Normally Big Mac would react not too happily to a comment like that, but he knew that her sister meant nothing by it, it evened out most of the time when he called her small. The large stallion chuckled at her comment and leane dback in the chair and it rocked back and forth with little effort.

They both glistened with sweat as they finished their chores. Applejack drinking the reward of Big Mac's chores. Big Mac usually did all of the heavy lifting and it is because of that he was trusted with squeezing the apples and making the apple cider. Most ponies think that it was their apples that made their cider what it is, and while it is a factor, it was really Big Mac that made the cider what it is known for. And his secret that makes it taste so good is something that not even she is allowed to know. Not even Granny Smith.

Frankly she did not care, because she made the best apple pie out of all of them. Yet nothing can compare to Granny Smith's Zap Apple Jam. It seemed reasonably well balanced, they all had their strengths and their weaknesses in their cookings and recipes. Apart, they are great recipes, but when they are paired together they become a force to be reckoned with at fairs and their family reunions.

Applejack took another generous sip and downed nearly half of it already, the well balanced tart and sweet juice running down her throat. As she finished her swallow she saw Granny Smith step out, Applejack said to her grandmother without even looking at her, "We finished the harvest early this year, granny."

There was brief silence before she answered with a nonchalant, "That's great kiddo..."

Her voice was very sullen and depressed. Applejack looked back and her face mirrored exactly how her voice sounded. Though she appeared to be in deep thought as well. She tapped a hoof on her chin, almost considering something. Applejack rested her drink on the porch railing and turned, facing her granny slightly, "Is everything alright granny?"

There was no immediate answer as she stared off at the horizon. The sun beamed on them as a cloud passed and the beam soaked into their coats. Applejack exchanged a look with Big Mac, wondering if it was something that either of them did. Applejack briefly considered that maybe Granny Smith thought that they finished their harvest too early? Applejack then scrapped that thought and knew that from the look, it had nothing to do with the harvest.

If not that, then what was it that had her so upset?

Applejack had done nothing recently that would have set her off or tipped her off balance. Big Mac did little to nothing to warrant any kind of negative feelings, he was always well behaved. And Applebloom had not done something too off putting but nothing that Granny Smith would really get her into this kind of mood.

No, this was something else. And both Bog Mac and Applejack knew this. Applejack moved her gaze back over to her granny as she continued to stare off into the distance with emotionless features.

Finally, mustering all that she could, Granny Smith answered, "No...no, 'fraid not."

Applejack felt a sudden weight on her shoulders as she asked, "Why, what's wrong?"

Granny Smith struggled with the words, Applejack could see it on her face, but she finally stammered it out, "It...the...the Call just went out."

Applejack was confused for a second and was about to ask what the Call was but she soon remembered what it was and Applejack herself felt that heavy weight. It felt as if the weight was there to slowly strangulate her and squander her quick victory over the harvest. Applejack looked down and muttered, "It can't be..."

Applejack looked back up and asked, "You mean-"

"-The Call of the Great Hunt. 'fraid so Applejack." Granny Smith answered, gritting her teeth in the front.

Applejack shook her head, "It had to be for another family, we left-"

Granny Smith moved her gaze over to Applejack and where there should have been a ridiculous face there was absolute seriousness. She grumbled, "We can never truly leave, Applejack. We can only sit and wait."

Applejack said defiantly, "So we are just going to let a bunch of snot nosed pompous nobles push around?"

Granny Smith stood up fast and barked, "Yes! Because if we even raise a hoof in defiance we will become a distant memory of Ponyville. And possibly bring the town down with us. Mandalore has spoken and we must obey."

Applejack decided that she could no longer voice her defiance. Instead she sighed, "What's the bounty?"

"Any wielder of the dark side," Granny Smith answered as she sat back down, "They're saying that they are back."

"I thought they were wiped out?" Applejack shrugged.

"Me too," Granny Smith answered, "Me too..."

She glanced over at Big Mac and Applejack and said, "I'll look after the young one, you two have Sith to hunt. Bring back a trophy of those bastards so that we can know that they are truly dead this time."

Author's Note

Happy thanksgiving! A short update for you guys for turkey day