All was quiet down in Sweet Apple Acres, where the sun was just rising and there was a sharp chill still lingering in the air, after a wintry night. The rooster crowed his greetings for the new day and muttering darkly, I rolled out of bed and threw my work boots on. As I stumped downstairs to the dimly lit kitchen, I saw Big Macintosh, up first as always, already waiting for me. "Come on A.J, times'a burnin'!" He announced, standing up from the wooden chair he was sitting in. He threw open the ancient front door, causing it to creak shrilly in protest as it opened. "Them apples won't shift 'emselves." "Ah'm coming, ah'm coming." I grumbled, stretching out the kinks in my neck and shoulders as I followed him out. "Ah was jest enjoying mah forty winks Big Mac, no crime against that now is there?" The sky was a still a murky purple, though the sun's bright rays peeked out from between the Equestrian mountain range. Whistling an old farm tune, Big Mac strode on ahead while I paused to grab my old Stetson from the hook, just inside the barn door. "Well, what are we waitin' for?" I cried, eager to get going now that I had completely woken up. "Lets do it, afore we head to school!" Together, we walked down the dusty little path to the apple orchards, our families pride and joy. As we arrived before the gate, Big Mac stopped to give out the instructions. "Right y'all can start over yonder in the far West section and and work yer way North. Ah'll take the Eastern corner and together we'll meet at the Northern gate and work our way down South." "Eeeyup." I said confidently, stretching out my shoulders in anticipation. But as I headed off to begin my section, I felt a restraining hand upon my shoulder and turning, found Big Mac on the other end of it, faint amusement in his eyes. "What is it?" I asked, suspiciously and for a good reason too. See, I knew Big Mac real well, (I oughta, seeing's how hes my big bro.) and from experience I have learned that whenever he finds something funny, you can bet a bushel of apples that no-one else will. He looks at me with mock concern. "Now are y'all sure ya can handle the section on yer own? Ah mean, y'all are a girl, after all." As always, my gut instincts are right. I felt my cheeks redden, as heat flowed into them. "Jest a girl, huh?!?" I fired back, glaring at my evil big brother. "What in the hay are y'all tryin' to say, ya rotten apple-munching mud baby!? Why ah'll bet I can buck twice's much as y'all!" I fired these words at him, trying to make him take what he said back, but he only snorted in contempt. "As if!" He cried, pounding me on the back. "Dream on, lil' sis, the day you fetch more apples 'n me'll be the day ah fly!" We stood, chest to chest, apple gathering all but forgotten in this tense clash of sibling rivalry. 'Weel fine then!" I cried, anger flowing through me. "If y'all are so sure that ah can't beat you, then let us have a little contest! We've got two hours, 'fore school starts and in that time, we race to collect the most apples from the orchard. The loser, being the one havin' collected the least amount of apples has to do a punishment to make up for their loss!" "Bring it on, A.J!" Big Mac challenged as we faced off. "You've got nuthin on me, I was buckin apples since y'all were knee-high to a cider barrel!" "Alright fine! I buck more apples 'n you before times up and y'all gotta ask Fluttershy out t' dinner!" Big Mac blushed, as I well knew he would. It's no secret in Canterlot High that those two like each other. Alot. But neither one of them, was brave enough to ask the other on a date. I stood proudly, thinking I had already won and that Big Mac was gonna back down. "alright, fine!" He stuttered angrily, taking me by suprise. "But when ah win, and y'all can bet ah will win, y'all gotta go right upta Rainbow Dash, next time yeh see her, hug her tightly, and kiss her upon her cheek!" Taken unawares, my knees buckled but I hastily pulled myself upright, cheeks burning in rage and mortification. "What in tarnation d'ye think yer playin' at, Big Mac?" I shot back, fear beginning to cloud my anger. "Ah'm not gonna mosey on up tah Dash and smooch her, jest t' satisfy y'all sick dreams!" "Uh-huh, 'cause yer a chicken and ye know y'all cant beat me." Replied Big Mac, folding his arms across his chest, cock-sure. "Ah can't say Ah'm not surprised, y'all never could beat me, being a girl and everythin."
