AppleJack stretched, yawning as she glided past rows of fruit covered trees. Letting the sweet, tangy scent impact her mood as she began a smug trot. Smiling at the golden orange sunrise consuming the bitter blackness. A light breezed tugged on her dandelion mane and rippled across her fur and clothes. Cotton fluttered on the winds wake, looking like gray dots until their stark white was illuminated as it passed by the sun.

Her green eyes were molten peridot and leaves in deep summer, and they glinted eagerly out across the acres as she stood atop the hill. Inhaling the coolness of dawn before charging forward. Her red plaid shirt and loose jeans rippling as she increased speed, with each hoof fall her smile grew more. Until she pivoted sharply in the grass, bucking a tree with baskets underneath.

The moment her hooves touched the tree, she warmly shivered. A wave of calm overtook her as they thudded against it. And for a moment, she thought she could hear the tree whisper something indistinguishable, as well as electric tingles under the earth. Extracting them from it, the sensations were silenced, replaced by the plopping of apples against wicker and grass.

Lifting a foreleg up, she observed how many trees she alone would have to tend to today.

Always Alone a voice seethed.

She winced, as the words shocked at the corners of her mind. Pinning up her ears, she looked around, though she knew it had come from her. But it didn't sound like her voice in her head. The mare shook it off, happily bouncing among the trees with a content grin.

Unwanted Burden

AppleJack's right hoof kicked the trunk at an angle. Sharp pain exploded through it as her ankle knocked against the tough bark. Gasping, she recoiled the leg, wincing as she looked at little droplets of blood. She hadn't had an accident this bad since...well ever. Grimacing as the wound began to sting, she looked out towards the barn. Luckily she had hurt herself when she wasn't too far away, however this would set back the amount of work she could do.

Big Mac was out of town with Sugar Belle selling some of pies- the mare was almost a household name at this point. And Apple Bloom was always off doing some activity. Ignoring her sisters warnings to rest up before the college year started in a month and a half. She couldn't rightfully remember where she ran off too, only adding to her irritability.

Pulling herself back towards homes, she stopped looking out at a grave marker. Her face falling and ears dropping as she started at it. Forcing herself to tear away from it, she spat a tapestry of obscenities as her wounded ankle thunked on the ground each time.

"Granny?" she called, her drawl booming yet clear. "I had'a little accident and was wondering if-?"

Groaning, she remembered her grand mare had gone out with her great aunts up to Manehatten days ago, and would be staying up there for a few more. Hotly huffing, she dragged herself into the bathroom and began sanitizing the wound as best she could on her own. Laboriously winding a medical tape over the bandage.

"You're supposed 'a be the tough one, remember?" she chastised herself as she walked out. "Well, we won't be lettin' a little scratch harm us none."

Ripples of discomfort could be seen with each step she took as she walked back out on the farm. The sun had now clearly risen, illuminating the rows of crisp, red apples she had to get down today. Gulping, she pondered exactly how she was going to do that now. Turning around, she headed back inside, collecting herself and sat on the edge of the bath tub.

"AppleJack?" Big Mac's voice pierced the house.

Looking down she flinched when she realized she was back in bed. Though she didn't remember carrying herself there. Pinning back her ears in shame she crawled back out. Clenching her jaw when she wobbled, struggling to hold herself up. Light trembles when through her, but she made herself walk back out. Scrunching her muzzle when she looked out the window at the sunset.

"I'm'a comin'!" the mare replied, "Sorry Big Mac, I-"

She nearly bumped to him on her way out the door. Offering him a smile, but was unable to look him in the eye.

"What happened? When I got back none of the trees in the B acre were bucked."

A cold constriction overtook her torso, "I hurt myself earlier and must'a took something for it and tried to rest for a moment. I'm really sorry-"

"Me and Sugar Belle will harvest the rest of them," he said both soft and firmly. "Just get some more rest and get back to it when ya' can. If it was this bad you need more rest. You never get enough and we both know it."

Silenced, she nodded. Backing up into her room and offering him a thankful grin.

"Would you be able to help Apple Bloom tomorrow with her booth? Only with the light stuff, ya' hear? I was supposed to, but..."

"No problem."

Clamoring out of bed the following dawn she felt an immediate difference in her ankle. Dull pain lingered, but she was able to trot with ease now. Passing the still asleep Apple Bloom's room, she ambled to the barn. Sighing, she looked at the pile of wood that needed sawing and disorganized decorations that had to be thrown into the wagon.

Muttering, she got to work. Effortlessly lifting slabs of wood and cleaning up. Humming to herself throughout the labor.

It wasn't until noon after she finished that she realized Apple Bloom still hadn't come out. Stomping back inside she went into the kitchen to sate her grumbling stomach, too tired to yell for her sister. Grumbling, she prepared an egg sandwich. Absently staring out the window at the distant collapsed shed, the dirt around it transformed to glass.

Author's Note

This story is projected to get new chapters every 3-4 days!