Author's Note

So this chapter was originally going to be all one part that would likely have been fairly long, but as usual life has a way of preventing things that we want. So I thought the best thing that I could do was to just release the chapter in parts and hope that it would go over OK.

That being said I hope I got all of the grammar and spelling issues. I also hope that I'll be able to get the other two or maybe three parts of this planed day out relatively shortly as I already have the majority of the following parts done.

So please tell me if you all enjoy and keep an eye out for the next few parts as I hope to be bringing you them over the coming week!

Outsiders view of the woods Part 1

P.O.V. change to Applejack

Mornings in the Apple family were always a lively event. According to Granny everypony, born or joined, in the family either started out a morning pony or became one in time. So it was always interesting when the sun peaked over the horizon rousing the family.

Today It was Granny’s morning to cook for everypony which is always a special thing. Not to say that the rest of us couldn’t cook, it was just that Granny had a way of making some of the best foods that seemed to stick with you all day even through a hard days work. To make it even better now that the weather was getting colder there would defiantly be a nice warm breakfast waiting for everypony downstairs.

With the call for breakfast breaking the quiet of the morning you would have thought there was a stampede moving through the house. Applebloom made it to the table first, followed by Mac and I shortly after. Granny let loose a full body chuckle and joined us at the table where we all dug in. Flapjacks with berries and homemade warm cinnamon applesauce practically disappeared from the table with how fast we were eating it.

With breakfast quickly finished and we all got up to get ready for the day, with Mac and I collecting the dishes and cookware to clean. Taking the job together was habit by this point after having done the same routine since we were far younger then Bloom was. With me scrubbing the dishes and Mac drying and putting them away we could make quick work of the chore. But in normal Ponyville fashion something had to go and change those plans.

Hearing a knock from the door stopped our progress and we gave each other a questioning look before turning to the clock on the wall. Our eyes widened at the time the clock read, 6:00, it was far later then it should have been at this point. As Mac made his way to the door I called out “Applebloom hurry it up were runnin’ late!”

Drying my hands I quickly made my way to my room to get changed and get my bedmane under control. Grabbing a good pair of jeans and a nice long sleeve flannel shirt as well as some fresh skivvies, I threw everything on and got to brushing my mane and tail. With the tough part done I made my way to the bathroom to brush my teeth when Granny poked her head out into the hallway. “Who’s at the door youngin’? Could it be that colt ya’ keep hiding from us” she said with a smirk.

A blush quickly took hold and I struggled to keep my embarrassment hidden. “W-what are ya’ talking bout’ Granny? Ah’m not sure who is at the door, Mac was handling it. And Ah’m not hidin’ no colt anywhere” I replied sternly.

Laughing Granny continued to poke at my discomfort “Sure ya’ ain’t, but then who is it ya’ keep going out of yer’ way to find a reason to see em' all the time.” Ugh, her could her smirk get any larger?

Fighting through my blush and brushing my teeth made it harder to respond “For the last time Granny, Val’s a really great friend and you’ve met him a few times.”

"Mmhm, Ah’ remember him, he’s that tall fur less one? Hes got that long dark mane with some fur on his face and those strange small pointy ears on the side of his head, right? Well that’s fine by me youngn’ he was right helpful round the farm and was plenty nice to boot. So ya’ best be thinkin’ on how yer’ gonna catch him real soon or some other mare will swoop in and steal him from ya’!” She gave me a stern look as I practically choked from that response but of course she was gone before I could even say anything else.

Finishing up in the bathroom I made my way downstairs to see who was at the door only to find a strange sight. Big Mac was talking to two stallion guards who were wearing full golden armor of the sun guards and had spears in their hands with their short swords at their waist. Seeing me walking towards the door they both snapped to a salute. One of the two nearly identical guards stepped closer and made for a quick introduction. “Ma’am, I apologize if there is any inconvenience but Princess Celestia has called for all of the Elements to meet her and Princess Luna at the town library.”

“Well shoot, is there trouble?” I questioned. “It had better not be more monsters from the forest.”

The two guards dropped their salute and gave each other a quick glance before the other chuckled. “No Ma’am, I’m sorry if we gave you the wrong impression. The forest has been a lot quieter since the Warden moved into the place. The Princess called out to the Elements because she would like to speak with you about the incident from yesterday.” He gave a quick look to a small piece of paper he fished out of his belt pouch. “She mentioned something about a parasprite and an argument between some of the Elements and the Warden.”

“Yeh, but all that is settled now” I replied shaking my head. “It was just a small issue anyhow.” Turning to Mac I gave a quick apology for having to leave and not helping with the morning chores. Stepping out into the morning air I shrugged and motioned the guards to lead the way and we set out for town.

*******

We had made it to the edge of town before one of the guards said something. “I’m sorry Ma’am but would you allow me to ask a rude question?” Only pausing to wait for my quick nod he continued, “the both of us are a part of Princess Celestia’s private guard. So naturally we were there when the Warden first came to the castle, as well as when he was knighted and then moved here. The castle staff and all the palace guards got to know him during the time he was staying at the castle, and everypony who gets to know him longer then a passing meeting knows how he is.”

Both of the guards came to a stop and fully faced me when the other continued for his partner. “He’s known around the castle and the guard for his kind attitude, Ma’am. That said he’s also known for how he gets when he is in a fight, many of the castle guard got first hoof knowledge of that after challenging him a few times for practice” he said chuckling. “Surprisingly nearly all of them lost. But he made more good impressions than bad despite that.”

“Well shoot” I laughed smiling, “Y’all had me worried for a minute there.” My reply seemed to bring a small smile to their faces. “If’n ponies round here would give him more of a chance that would likely be the same. Its kinda funny when ya’ think bout it, he’s been livin’ here for a little while now but not many will even try ta’ give him the time of day, that includes mah’ friends.”

“But Ah’ don’t think that ya’ could meet anypony better than him” I said letting my smile grow larger. “Just a few weeks ago when the summer harvest started mah’ idiot brother went and got himself hurt. With him bein’ down and out Ah’ thought that Ah’ could let a little silliness go to mah’ head. So Ah’ started tryin’ to harvest all of Sweet-Apple acres all on mah’ own.” I gave a short laugh seeing the two grimace slightly before continuing “It was a dumb idea and mah’ friends tried to get me to let them help out, and soon enough Ah’ did.”

“It was funny though, cuse even with mah’ friends helping out the harvest would have taken weeks anyhow” I said with a sigh seeing the two nod their heads in agreement. “So ya’ could imagine mah’ surprise when more apples then we harvested showed up in the barn. Ah’ tried ta’ figure out how more apples then we’d bucked managed to get into tha’ barn. Ah’ even had Mah’ friends count em’ all again but there was always more then what should’a been.”

“Turns out Mac had gotten mighty frustrated with me and said something to Val hopin’ he could talk some sense inta’ me. So can ya imagine Mac’s surprised face when Val just up and marched to the fields and just started working. Ah’ didn’t even realize that whole sections of the farm were being taken care of.” Laughing and shaking my head I continued my story “He took care of more of the harvest then Ah’ care to admit and when Ah’ went to pay him ya’ know what he said?” pausing slightly taking in the confused look on their faces. “‘Your a good friend and I won’t leave my friends to suffer even if they are being foolish enough to cause their own pain.’”

We all shared a good laugh before I started us back on the road towards the library. It only took a few minutes for us to pass Sugercube Corner and for the library to come into view. Once I saw the door was open with Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie standing in front of it having a small conversation. The guards gave me a quick salute and said their goodbyes to go patrol the town.

“Well Howdy Girls,” I said walking up to the front door.

“Good morning to you Applejack” replied Rarity.

“Morning Applejack!” shouted Pinkie.

“Hey Aj, Ugh its way to early for this.” groaned Rainbow.

“Its always to early for you darling,” Rarity said with a smirk. “That said now that we’re all here we should make our way inside, no point keeping the Princesses waiting,” she called back already making her way inside, followed shortly by the rest of us.