The soft whistle of the wind and the cries of birds and animals across the vast orchard were disturbed every so often by a sharp smack, followed shortly thereafter by some thuds. Then for a time the orchard is free to sit undisturbed. Only for the twin sounds to be heard yet again.
Apple Bloom let out a sight as she watched the apples drop from the tree and fill the buckets in question. She looked about, counting the number of buckets she had filled and giving herself a nod. She had enough for the wagon and the trip back to the barn.
Pushing the cowpony hat up a bit, she wiped some sweat off her brow as she trots off to the nearby wagon and hitched herself to it, then set about collecting all of the apples she had gathered. It was hard doing it by herself, but she had long grown used to doing it like this.
An hour later, she was heading on back to the old barn, spotting Big Macintosh tending to the animals while the hired hands, Caramel and a New Foal by the name of Sebastian making some repairs to one of the secondary storage sheds.
A loud clanging sound came from the farmhouse, and Apple Bloom's stomach rumbled at the sound, a smile forming on her face as she heard Snips making the call for lunch. "C'mon everypony! Snails made some good eatin's, so get a move on before it get's cold!"
"Hold yer horses, we're comin'." Apple Bloom replied as she trotted on up to the porch, giving him a slight nudge with a hoof as she snickered "Besides, Ah think ya'll can wait a bit longer. Ya eat more of Snail's cookin' than all the rest of us."
The pudgy unicorn blushed and harrumphed before looking down at his weight and saying "Hey, I can't help it. It's good food!"
"Ah know Snips, Ah'm just messin' with ya." Apple Bloom said as she walked into the house, stepping through the living room and into the kitchen where Snails was putting the finishing touches on lunch. As was usual, it was an hour later then it would have been if one of them had been doing the cooking, but Snails liked to be extra sure everything was just right... even if it took a bit longer.
"What'cha make today Chef Snails?"
Snails turned and gave a wide smile, though it took a moment for it to form. "Just some grilled Asparagus with an apple cider butter glaze with some fried turnip patties and fresh baked zucchini bread."
Apple Bloom licked her lips and returned the smile. "Sounds deeelicious!" She grabbed herself a plate, getting a serving of everything before everyone else started filtering in. Except for Snips, which surprised her.
"Sebastian, is Snips-" She began, figuring the New Foal would know since he was the last to come in. Before she could finish, or he could even begin to answer, Snips burst back in, waving an envelope about fiercely in his magical field as he shouted,
"TELEGRAM! TELEGRAM FROM APPLEJACK!"
Everypony in the room froze, then after a mere five seconds of baited breath, everypony was crowding around Snips as he eeped in surprise from their speed. It was as if they all teleported from their seats to his side.
"Where's it from?" Snails asked as Big Macintosh gave him permission to open it.
Snips paused, doing a quick check of the sending address. "Republic of California... that's where AJ's been working to help the humans with some of their farms, isn't it?"
"Eyup." Big Mac said, then added "Been awhile since she wrote. Must have got busy."
"Ah hope everythin's okay. Last letter she sent said she and some of those militia had to chase some kind of mythological creatures from an almond orchard they were working on." Apple Bloom recalled how worried she'd been from that letter, even if her big sister had assured them everything was fine.
"Well, if you'll let me, I can read it aloud." Snips said, pulling the letter out and holding it before him, beginning to read. Thankfully, not in his Applejack voice. He'd learned that lesson very quick from the first letter.
--To Sweet Apple Acre's, Ponyville, Equestria
---From Priceland Heights, Samford county, California Republic
Howdy ya'll. Know it's been the better part of... oh, a month and a half since Ah last sent ya'll a telegram. Hope everythings goin' well on the farm. Things have gotten right good around here since the last message... thanks to an influx of New Foals from San Diego, the farm's of Priceland Heights are doin' better than ever. Reckon they didn't need my help here anymore, seein' as Mr. Matthew's and Steel Plow have figured out how to keep things working between everyone.
This earned the complete attention of everypony present, nopony breathing as they waited for what they were all hoping for.
They were sorely disappointed.
Ah ain't comin' back home yet.
Apple Bloom groaned, eyes dampening as she sent the letter a glare. Big Macintosh just shook his head, while Snails sighed. Sebastian gave them all sympathetic looks.
Ah know you're all upset about this, probably even the new fellar ya'll told me about, Sebastian wasn't it? Haven't gotten to meet him and thank him for all the hard work he's been doin' round the farm yet, but Ah send him all of my appreciation and gratitude. Keep up the good work partner.
Anyways, the reason I'm sendin' this here telegram is so ya'll know what's goin' on. I've volunteered for another three month gig with the Equestrian Farmin' Corps, and Ah'm bein' sent on off to the Ivory Coast. Seems this country called the West African Federation has been having some trouble with some of their harvests, and they've asked the big guy, Hayseed Turnip Truck, if they can get some help from the best.
And as much as Ah try not to toot my own horn, well, we all know Ah'm one of Equestria's best farmin' ponies.
Now, Ah already talked it over with Hayseed. Ya'll don't have to worry none about that day. Ah'll be home for that. No way Ah'd ever miss that anniversary if Ah can help it.
"Anniversary? For what?" Sebastian asked, looking from one pony to another, a questioning look in his eyes as his gaze landed on Apple Bloom.
"It's... well, you'll find out when AJ gets back." Apple Bloom said softly, glancing out a window towards a large hill, dominated by an ancient apple tree.
"O-Oh..." He looked down, pawing softly at the floor as Snips coughed and continued.
Don'tcha worry 'bout me any. Ah'm gonna send a letter as soon as Ah arrive with a few other volunteers, and after the three months, Ah'll be coming back home for a while. That's why Ah got a three month stint, rather than the normal six month's. Hayseed know's the day's comin' up, and he also knows how long Ah been gone from the farm.
Anyways, hope Big Macintosh is doin' better, and make sure to let me know when Snips and Snails finally settle on a date for the big weddin'. Don't wanna miss that one heheh.
Snips and Snails blushed, Snips giving Snails a stern look as he said "See, even AJ want's us to go ahead and pick a day."
"Well, Applejack isn't us." Snails said, giving Snips a soft kiss to the horn and earning a bright blush from him and soft snickers from the rest. "We'll pick a day when we're both ready."
Shaking her head, Apple Bloom asked "Anythin' else there Snips?"
Snips shook his head and glanced back down to the letter.
"Just a 'Miss ya'll alot, hope to get a letter back soon, Love AJ.'"
There was silence for a moment, everypony's attention on the letter. Then Big Macintosh said "Eat first. Than we can write a letter and send it off to AJ before the Post Office closes."
They all nodded, returning to the table and enjoying the wonderful meal that Snails had made for them. As always, it was the best food they'd ever had. Snails simply couldn't ruin a dish if his life depended on it.
Small talk was shared amongst the Ponies, and there was a bit of laughter Sebastian's short little tale of having trouble with the Chickens again, who seemed to hate him with a vengeance. He blamed it on a video game called "Zelda" for some reason, he'd never really gotten around to explaining it.
Once they were all done though, they took the telegram and left the farm, walking as one big extended family as they all shared ideas for what to send in the letter.
-*-
A few days had passed since they got the letter, and everything had gone back to normal. There hadn't been much to say, other than mentioning that Big Macintosh was improving and that Sebastian was turning out to be a good farm hand, unlike Caramel had been.
Apple Bloom was busy at her stall, selling apples and apple themed treats alongside some of the other crops they'd finished harvesting this last week. Business was improving somewhat, the influx of New Foals and a single human family having helped pick things up as they started buying all the things they needed left and right. There were a few grumbles, but so far things were looking up for Ponyville.
She had just finished selling an apple brown bake and two bushels to one of the New Foals, a unicorn mare by the name of Yarnball, when there was a thump behind her. Looking back, she saw the form of Muffins, Derpy to her friends, laying in a heap amongst some of her stock, postal bag sitting atop her head.
"Uh... want some help Derpy?" She asked as the mail mare pulled herself out of the bucket of carrots and shook some of the letters and packages off her.
"Nope! I'm okay!" She said, giving that wide joy filled smile of hers before snatching up one of the boxes and putting it on the stall desk. "Got a special delivery for youu!~"
Apple Bloom's eyes widened as she saw a stamp with three apple's arrayed in a familiar fashion. She quickly pulled the mail mare, who had been trying to pick up some of the mail, into a very tight hug.
"Thank ya thank ya thankya THANK YA!" Apple Bloom shouted as she shook herself and Derpy about. She let go of the grey coated pegasus only so she could pull a bag of apple cinnamon muffins and put them in her saddle bags.
"Here ya go Derpy, on the house." She said with a smile as Derpy's eyes widened and she looked from the bag to Apple Bloom. "For bringin' this here package to me while Ah was workin'."
"Oooh WOW! Your the bestest!~" Derpy shouted, drawing the attention of some other Ponies nearby as she wrapped Apple Bloom in a hug this time. Derpy's was, somehow, much tighter than Apple Bloom's had been.
"A-Air p-please?" She asked, and was thankfully released. The mail mare gave a wide smile, thanked her again, and then flew off, corkscrewing once before managing to fly correctly as she headed off.
Shaking her head, she put the package in the cart and quickly set about closing shop for the day. A package from Applejack was always exciting, and meant not only a letter, but souveniers! Everypony would want to see and hear everything inside right away.
It was only ten minutes later she was pulling past the fence, Sebastian looking up at her as he came to a stop in their smaller spinach patch. "Apple Bloom, you're back early. Something happen?"
Apple Bloom made for the barn, but she had a wide smile on her face as she gave a simple reply.
"We got us a special delivery."
-*-
Just arrived today in the capital of the state of Nigeria. The place is pretty hot and sunny, more so than even California, but it's a nice lookin' city and the folks Ah've met so far have all been mighty kind and polite. Took the translation spell a moment for me to understand them though, so Ah got to hear a bit of their language. Kinda reminded me of Zecora.
And speaking of Zecora, ya'll won't believe me who Ah saw at the airport. None other than Zecora herself! Ah actually walked right into her, didn't get much sleep on the plane to be honest.
Anyways, we talked for a bit, couldn't hold her for long since she had a plane to catch herself, off to London so she could take a portal back to Equestria. But she told me she was here working with the WAF government to help settle up some of the other Zebra folk from Equus here. They're here to help the Africans to, but some are also here to study some of their Earth-kin.
Ah wished her well, even though Ah was a bit bothered by such research. Don't know why, but the idea of studying the equines of Earth is just... odd.
Movin' on though, Ah did some shoppin' and got some things for everyone. Just like Ah did when Ah visited California and France before that, everypony got a gift. Even Granny, and ya'll know where to put Granny's gift.
Apple Bloom, got ya a new hat, somethin' a local shopkeeper recommended. Ah don't think it'll win any fashion contests, but ya can wear it in place of your normal work hat if ya get tired of it any time.
Big Macintosh, Ah'm glad your not embarrassed by this sorta thing anymore. Ah got some dolls, hand made ones for ya. Add them to that collection ya been making since ya snatched Twilight's Smarty Pants doll.
No, Ah'm never lettin' ya live that one down.
Snails, Ah sent ya some local herbs and spices, along with some vegetables. Figured ya can use it to spice up some of our hometown recipes or come up with new ones. And Snips, sent ya some more books. Don't worry, this time I made sure they had the translation spells cast on them, ya can read them just fine. Few of them are even local authors!
Sebastian, since ya mentioned in the first letter ya like flags, Ah got ya the flag of Nigeria and the WAF. If Ah get a chance, Ah'll get one for the other states Ah visit.
And Granny's... well, as Ah said, ya'll know what to do with Granny Smith's gift.
Apple Bloom had finished handing out the gifts, trying on the hat and finding she liked it, and might wear it a few times this week. Big Macintosh was organizing the twelve or so dolls Applejack had sent him, trying to figure out how he was going to arrange them when he put them on his shelf.
Snips was already a chapter into his book, something about a lost treasure and witch doctors he had murmured when she asked. Snails in the meantime was just smiling and watching the others enjoy their present, having already set the new ingredients up for later use and taste testing.
Sebastian of course was busy pinning his two newest flags to the wall of the room he was renting, as Apple Bloom looked into the box, the last thing left within it.
A pile of handwritten notes, tied with a rope. All of them addressed to Granny Smith.
Apple Bloom didn't know how AJ got these letters together so fast... either way though, with everypony else being busy this time, Apple Bloomed picked the bundle up with her teeth and turned outside, walking quietly as the sky was painted in a myriad of colors as the sun began to dip beneath the tree's of the Everfree Forest.
"Want some company?" Snails asked, nearly making Apple Bloom drop the letters as she turned and saw that he'd followed on after her.
Smiling, she nodded and mumbled "Sure thing. Ah'm sure Granny Smith would like a visit from someone besides me and Big Macintosh."
The two ponies walked on up the hill leading to the large, ancient apple tree. Around the base, was a small fence, and there were rows of small, simple stones sticking up from the ground. Headstones of all the Apples who had died over the decades since Sweet Apple Acres, and Ponyville, filled the somber and serene cemetery.
Now though, there was a headstone just at the front, right next to the tree itself. This one was larger, and more ornate than all the others. On it, an image of the Apple Family Matriarch had been carved, her name written in a flowery style, and beneath it a statement of truth.
'You who rest here, shall always be remembered, for it is from you whom all others who carry our name have come forth.'
There was a special chest, built into the ground, that Snails opened for Apple Bloom as she gently let the letters fall down into the dark hole. It landed amongst two other sets of letters of gratitude from total strangers. People who had been helped by Applejack herself.
"Heya Granny Smith. AJ got these for ya." She said, her eyes dampening slightly as she closed the chest and ran a hoof over it. Snails simply sat on his haunches nearby, ready to offer support if it was needed as he gazed a the headstone.
"AJ isn't comin' home yet... she's still out there helpin' other folks, workin' hard to make things better." She said with a soft, sad smile. "Ah'm hopin' when she does come home this time, that she plans on stayin' around longer than a month like the last time. The farm... it's not the same without Big Sis."
A soft wind blew across them both, rattling leaves on the ancient tree. Apple Bloom smiled softly as one brushed across her shoulder.
"Ah know why she stays away... and that if ya'll were here ya'd smack her upside the head for feelin' how she does. But we all deal with pain in our own way... Ah just hope AJ's dealt with it enough this time." Apple Bloom reached a hoof out to trace the edge of the headstone.
"Ah'm prayin' every day for it... prayin' that she's dealt with her grief, and is ready to come back home."
The tree creaked and the leaves rustled in response as another brief burst of wind blew over the farm. Apple Bloom smiled, leaning forward and kissing the image of Granny Smith, then turning back and nodding to Snails.
Together, the two headed on back to the house, Apple Bloom only looking back once to shed a single tear before closing the door and joining with the others in whipping up dinner.
