I gazed upon the tree before me in frustration, it was black and wilted with no fruit upon its branches; which was once so full of life.
It was dead.
Turning around, I bucked in as hard as I could. Another tree lost, again! Why do they keep dying!
I stopped bucking the dead tree. Turning around I observed the damage and sighed. There was a big dent in the tree. It probably only made the situation worse, but It sure helped my frustration.
Seriously though, why do the apple trees keep dying? It couldn't be Apple Blight sense it doesn't usually kill the trees and there's been no signs, so why do they keep dying?
Could it be me?
I shook my head. No it couldn’t be me, could it? I am usually the one working the fields, sure Big Macintosh helps but I do most of work. It's better that way.
But is it? A few apple bucking seasons ago I was so out of it I couldn't get anything done! And who fault was that? Mine!
But the thing is, it's my job, it's my Destiny. It's my destiny to work on the farm, to harvest apples. For the rest of my life, trapped, that's what I am.
I didn't even want to work on a farm! I wanted to live a sophisticated life, like my aunt and uncle orange. But I chickened out, and in my moment of weakness the Rainboom happened.
The Rainboom, performed by my friend Rainbow Dash, is what brought us all together. Twilight the smart one, Rarity the pretty one, Rainbow the awesome one, Fluttershy the kind one, and Pinkie the fun one. But where does that leave me? The farmer? The hillbilly?
The background pony?
“Applejack?” I snapped out of my thoughts at the sound of my sister Applebloom. I looked down at the yellow filly. Her new cutie mark shining in the sun.
Such a unique cutie mark, unlike my cutie mark which are just apples. Hers is a beautiful three color shield with an apple in the middle. Her destiny is to help other ponies find their destiny.
Mine is to run a farm.
“Applejack, are you ok?” She asked, tilting her head. I shook my head trying to clear it and put on the best smile I could manage.
“It's nothing Applebloom” I reassured her “Just a little tired is all.”
“If you say so, anyway how bout you get so sleep. Big Mac said he would take over counting the trees to awaile, ok?”
“Alright” I walked away, my tail drooping low. I was in no mood to argue. I walked down the hill and those the tree until I was in front of the farmhouse, passing Big Mac on my way inside.
I made my upstairs and entered my room, passing by Granny's room which I could hear snoring coming from.
I sighed and looked around my room, same as ever; never changing. I plopped myself on my bed and laid down, staring at the ceiling.
Shortly after I heard somepony knocked on my door.
“Come in.” The door creaked open and Applebloom peaked around the corner, a worried look on her face.
“Applejack can I talk to you?” She asked. I sat up and patted the bed next to me.
“Sure.” The crusader walked over and plopped herself next to me. She turned and looked at me.
“Applejack, something's been bothering you. Are you ok?” She asked quietly.
I laughed nervously “Never better!”
“Applejack, don’t lie to me.” She said seriously, crossing her hooves. I sigh and relaxed my shoulders from the stress they were in from lying. This filly knows me too well.
“OK you got me, the truth is….” A howl cut me off, echoing throughout the farm. It set shockwaves up my spine making my hair stand up.
“What in the hay is that?!” Applebloom cried out.
I squinted my eyes and growled “Timberwolves.” I got up and ran toward the window, My jaw dropped at what I saw. There was a timberwolf in the pigpen. The wooden wolf lifted its head and I could see one of the pigs dangling from its mouth, squealing.
With one quick motion, the wolf clamped down on the poor pig. Blood splattered everywhere.
I reached over and covered Applebloom’s eyes and backed away. I pushed the yellow filly under the bed.
“Stay here.” I ordered then I took off out the room and down the stairs as fast as I could. On my way out I grabbed an axe. I threw open the front door and surveyed the area. There was only one timberwolf but I could smell two more in the area.
My eyes trailed over to the timberwolf that I could see. It was sniffing the air, clearly it could smell me.
“Hey stinky!” I called out to it, Its head raised and its ears perked.
I charged and punched it in the snout, the wood buckled under the force of the blow. It looked completely shocked for a moment before it roared and pounced. I swung the axe. The axe made contact with the wolf's mouth preventing it from go farther and getting me. Things were at a standstill.
The wolf growled around the mouthful of axe, I grunted and rolled my head then pulled the axe out of the timberwolves mouth and swung again before it could make a move.
“Applejack!” My eyes widened, applebloom?
“Applebloom what are you doing outside! Get back inside!” I screamed, all the commotion got the wolf's attention. The wolf growled and looked over at Applebloom who was standing off to the side.
“Of no you don’t!” I swung the axe as hard as I could, the axe made contact with its eyes. I roared and used its paws to scratch at its eyes.
“Applejack, look!” I looked away from the wolf and to my surprise I saw mysterious black tar on the side of one the apple trees. The black tar must be what's killing the apple trees!
That gives me an idea!
I growled and swung the axe one more time hitting its chest, sending it flying before landing in the tar.
The wooden wolf screeched in agony as it struggled to get out of the black tar. The scene was almost sad. Appleboom looked away and buried herself in my chest fur, and I could do was hold and stroke her gently as the wolf died in the worst way possible.
I know now what my destiny is. My destiny is to not just work on the farm, but to protect it and everypony on it from anything that might harm the lives that live here.
And I will do just that. After all, I’m an apple to the core.
