Ten years later.

Chapter 3 - Applejack

Slowly Applejack opens her sleepy eyes, the rooster didn't even cry yet, but Applejack wakes up early every day, she's used to see the sunrise through her window. A little smile appears on her face:"Good morning Ponyville" she whispers and jumps off her bed.

The orange earth pony trots over the squeaky floor and knocks at her spouse's door:"It's time to get up"

A very sleepy, brown earth pony steps outside, his light green hair is totally destroyed. The dark circles around his eyes tell you exactly what he thinks:"I'll never get used to that..." he has to giggle though.

"I'll pick the apples, please make sure Apple Jam goes to school... in due time" she knits her brows:"Not like yesterday!"

The stallion called Kiwi Fruit wraps his hoof around Applejack and kisses her cheek:"I promise she'll be there on time"

"Pinkie Pie promise?"

"What's a Pinkie Pie promise?" he blinks confused.

Applejack giggles:"Never mind, I'll see you at breakfast" she smiles and gallops to her orchard. The pleasant smell of apples flows through her nose and a gentle breeze caresses her face:"I love my work" she smiles again and starts to buck apples.

"Breakfast's ready!" Apple Bloom shouts through the acre in order to round everypony up:"Come on sis" she smiles and Applejack follows her little sister into the house. Apple Bloom is not that little anymore though.

Her whole family, well her Sweet Apple Acres family, is already there and they already began to eat. "Good morning everypony" she greets them and kisses her children. The orange pony looks at the place where her Granny Smith always sat. She sighs.

Big Mac's big green eyes face Applejack:"We miss her too AJ" he tries to comfort her with his deep, clear voice.

Apple Bloom swallows:"I don't really want to say that, but we have to move on Applejack. Granny Smith died 3 years ago, she had a great life, her time had come" she smiles:"Come on, eat something"

Applejack sighs, but sits down and eats her breakfast. Applejack remains silent while the others are talking, she just ignores them. I miss my granny, but they're right... I have to move on, it can't destroy my whole life. Yet it's so difficult to move on. Thousands of thoughts are in her head and they won't leave her alone. The earth pony stands up and kisses her children and her husband again:"Have fun in school you two, I'll see at noon Kiwi" she smiles and walks outside. She still suffers from her thoughts, she can't stop it. So she decides to buck the apples again, they have to make treats for the concert anyway. At least she has some time alone, some time to think about everything.

"Mommy, mommy!" Apple Zappy cries and gallops towards her mother:"I... Apple Jam..." he sobs and many tears run down his face:"Lost... wood..." he tries to explain, but everything Applejack understands is some stuttered gibberish. Applejack forgets her thoughts about her dead grandmother immediately. She picks her son up and pets him gently:"ShhhShhh. Easy Zappy" she kisses his cheek and comforts him until he stops crying. The little colt gulps:"They were on their way to school and I went with them and then... Apple Jam ran away, into the everfree forest and... and... Daddy tried to stop her and ran after her... and"

Applejack gasps:"Oh shoot! Go inside Zappy, your auntie Apple Bloom is there and makes some food for the concert. Don't worry, I'll take care of this" she smiles at his son and puts him down again.

After Apple Zappy was back in the house Applejack ran to the Everfree Forest. The forest isn't far away, Apple Jam and Kiwi Fruit pass it everyday when they go into town.

So the earth pony is pretty sure where they entered it. I think I can't blame him, he just wanted to look after his daughter and now he doesn't find her or they don't find the exit and are at leat together she thinks pretty upset about the ituation

She gulps while she's slowly walking into the forest. Applejack has been many times in there, that doesn't change the fact that it's extremely dangerous in there, especially if you're alone. She doesn't even want to think about where her daughter is and her husband. They could be anywhere by now, the forest is gigantic.

Applejack looks around, it's daytime, but all the homungus, trees are making the forest even at day pretty dark. At least she's able to see her own hoof in front of her. Suddenly something swishes in the bushes. Applejack turns around to look for it, but the shadow is so fast that it jumps from bush to bush, Applejack turns the whole time, her vision is getting blurry because she spins too fast. All of a sudden a hard, cold object hits her front hoof and the earth pony falls on her nose. The last thing she's able to see are some dark, silhouettes in front of her.

Applejack wakes up, she touches her head because of a terrible headache, the pain disappears after a few seconds. In spite of wobbly knees she manages to stand up and makes herself a picture of the situation.

She's in a room, or in a cave? No, it's a room, a big hall to be exact. A place that seems familiar, but something she hasn't seen in years. Suddenly it dawns on her. "Ohhh, right! This is the ancient castle of the royal princesses" she looks around. At least she knows how to get out of the forest now. She still has to find her daughter and her husband though.

After a few seconds five creatures appear around her. They look like a mix of a monkey and a little bear, with spiky ears and small, red eyes. They have dark brown fur. They snarl and show their claws, they're ready to attack, but Applejack is prepared too. "I don't know what you are, but y'all can't stop me!" she grins at them and starts to gallop in circles. The creatures, called nightmares, try to catch her, try to dig their claws into the earth pony and bite her, but every time one of them comes close to her she kicks them away or acts like a rodeo horse.

Now every single one lays on the ground, Applejack breathes heavily, but she sees her chance to escape. Rapidly the orange pony sprints through the gate, over the bridge. "I'm mighty happy it's still there" she says to herself. On the other side of the bride she bites through the ropes so that the monsters wouldn't be that fast.

After a pretty long sprint Applejack begins to trot instead. Even the trained runner has to stop from time to time. She breaths heavily and spots a stream in the distance. "Perfect" she snorts and gallops over there.

Yet another surprise on this extraordinary day, a purple sea serpent comes out of the water, with a filly on his head:"Really, you could hurt yourself, don't jump on me when I'm diving and you are ruining my fabulous, magnificent hair" he complains. Applejack recognizes the voice and the behavior immediately and of course the unmannerly.

"Come down Apple Jam! I know you're adventerous, but not when you have to be in school" she lectures her daughter.

"Oh shoot... would ya let me down Serpy?" she grins brightly while the sea serpent is putting her down:"My name is not Serpy young lady. Thanks for rescuing my mustache and my mane" he bows and disappears in the water.

Applejack looks at her daughter very angrily:"I told you, you shouldn't go into this forest, it's dangerous"

"But I'm fine!"

"Yes, but you could be injured or worse, you had luck. I want you to be honest Apple Jam, you have to be trustworthy. How can I allow you something if I can't trust you?" As Apple Jam starts to cry the earth pony sits down and wraps her hoof around the filly:"Sometimes I'm not honest, but you can believe me if it's important you do can count on me. I just want your best and that you don't get hurt. Do you promise me you will be honest?"

Apple Jam wipes her tears away and nods:"I'm sorry mommy, you can trust me"

Applejack kisses her forehead:"Alright, we'll see if you say the truth now" she smiles and looks around:"Where is your father?" she asks full of worry again.

"Daddy went outside to look for you, he said I should stay with the serpent" she explains and wants to run through the water.

The purple sea serpent makes a bridge immediately:"You can be very rude dear, you should work on that, but I don't have visitors very often, it's my pleasure"

The earth ponies walk over him. Apple Jam waves and runs ahead:"Thank ya a bunch" Applejack smiles.

The serpent gasps:"Oh I remember you! You are the friend of the charming white unicorn who gave me my wonderful mustache back... It was a few years ago, but I miss her, she was so fabulous"

Applejack giggles:"I'll tell Rarity to visit you soon, promised"

"Rarity! What a beautiful name!" he gasps again and splashes into the water what causes that he spatters the orange pony with water. A little annoyed Applejack gallops away, the same way her daughter took. "At least I get dry" she chuckles and both ponies leave the forest together.

Finally they see Kiwi Fruit again and Applejack can return to the farm:"You still have a few minutes until school Apple Jam, hurry up and you can still get there on time sugarcube" she smiles away and gallops back to the apple orchard.

She peers into the house where Apple Bloom and Apple Zappy are baking.

The yellow earth pony looks at her elder sister:"Oh Applejack, you're back! What happened?"

Applejack smiles:"Oh... just the usual" she has to giggle and leaves again.

Apple Zappy has to laugh:"My sister got into trouble again!"

Apple Bloom nods in agreement:"You're more down-to-earth, but it's not bad to be adventerous"

Applejack blinds their conversation out and starts to pick apples again. Some ponies may think it would get boring after all these years, but not for Applejack. She can think about everything and has time for herself, she would never switch her life with someone.