Seven Schools, Seven Heroes

Applejack woke up in her dorm room and picked up an apple from the bushel she'd brought with her from home before biting into it. As she walked to towards the Life School, she heard younger students murmuring about something and decided to ask what they were talking about. She walked over to a group and asked, "What's all the commotion about?"

One of the students, a yak who introduced her as Yona said, "You haven't heard? There's rumors that Nightmare Moon is in the City again, and classes have been canceled until the rumors are dispelled. It may just be gossip, but rumors like that are certain to cause panic."

Applejack had been told about Nightmare Moon by Spike at breakfast, but she didn't really know what to think of it at first. If the classes were cancelled, she didn't have anything to do now. She decided to stay and talk, "A good way to get focus off them rumors is to have a good ol' fashioned hoe-down!"

One of the other students raised an eyebrow and asked, "Hoe-down? Is that some sort of hick way of saying party?"

Applejack was obviously angered by the rude question, calling her a hick was one of the few ways to get on her bad side, but calmed down quickly, knowing anger would get her away from her train of thought. "Anyway, why don't we have some sort of first year welcoming party? I'm sure we could have a real good time!"

The other students voiced approval and ran off to get ready. Applejack then left to find Pinkie Pie to help with the party. When she found her, Pinkie Pie already knew about the party and said, "You don't have to tell me about a party! I always know when a party is going down! Plus the writer still doesn't know how to hide these things from me."

"Don't make me come down there Pinkie."

"I'd like to see you try!" Pinkie yelled to the sky, gaining some strange looks from passing students.

Applejack put a hand on Pinkie's shoulder, "Pinkie, not in public like this."

Pinkie pouted and said, "But he's always like this, he never lets me have fun. And why did me, Spike, Twilight, Dashie and Fluttershy have to go to class only for yours to be canceled, mind explaining that?"

"… I'm not saying anything without my lawyer present."

Before Pinkie could reply, Applejack put a hand over her mouth and said, "Pinkie, focus, party time."

Pinkie nodded, "Ok, I'd much rather plan a party than have to deal with him and his lawyer. And before you ask, I took my pills this morning. So, where should we have the party? Rainbow Dash told me she'd made friends with some Fire Elves on Firecat Alley and they offered her a free show at Fireglobe Theatre."

Applejack raised an eyebrow and asked, "And how did she do that? Didn't Professor Luna tell us the streets were off limits to first years?"

Pinkie was about to answer and fell silent, "Come to think of it, she never did tell me how she was able to get there, maybe Professor Spitfire gave her permission?"

Applejack sighed, "Well, Dashie's no liar, so if she got permission and can get us into Fireglobe Theatre, that's a good place. I'll go get to makin' some apple cider for the party, I'll meet you there." before heading back to her dorm. When she started getting ready to mash the apples, a tear came to her eye, "It's just not the same without Apple Bloom, Big Mac, and Granny... But I've still got to get this cider ready." before starting to turn the apples into apple cider.

As she carried the crates of apple cider, she heard Blossom, the Life Tree call out to her, "Excuse me young one, but would you mind terribly if I could taste some of that cider? Even here in Wizard City, the Apple family's cider is highly sought after, and it's been so long since an Apple attended the school, so I haven't had any since."

Applejack was a bit confused as to how a tree would want apple cider, but was happy to know that her family's cider had made a name for itself here too. She walked over and asked, "So, do I give it to you myself or pour it over your roots?"

Blossom smiled, "Thank you Applejack, pouring it over my roots will be just fine. If you don't mind, could you give the other trees in Ravenwood some? They too enjoy the tangy, refreshing taste of Apple family cider."

Applejack carefully poured a glass of cider over the tree's roots saying, "I'm more than happy to share some cider with the other trees." before going around the campus and giving the cider to the other six trees, Bartleby included, and receiving thanks from the other trees. After that, she headed down Firecat Alley to the Theatre.

Rainbow Dash waved over to her as the Fire Elves were on the stage moving props around, "Hey Applejack, down here!"

As Applejack took the crates of cider down, she asked, "Are the Fire Elves putting on a show for us?"

Rainbow nodded, "Yeah, when they heard you were bringing cider, they offered to put on a show in exchange for some. Guess the Apple family's cider is famous even here in Wizard City."

Applejack smiled, "Yeah, the school trees like it too, I spared them some too. It makes me proud to know my family's cider really is the best." before clinking a glass with Rainbow and sitting down to watch the Fire Elves' show.

As the show started, the Fire Elves were acting out the story of The Crucible. Applejack found the chosen show a tad ironic considering how they were learning to be witches, and the show was about the Witch Hunts in a far away realm of the Spiral called Earth.

After the show was over, Applejack served the Fire Elves the promised cider, "Drink up, have as much as you'd like. It's the least I can do for that great show."

The Fire Elf prince, Alicane Swiftarrow thanked her, "Thank you for the cider young one, it's been too long since an Apple family member has come to study at Ravenwood. Any time you need help or just want to see another show, feel free to come by."

As Applejack clinked her glass with the prince's, she said, "Much obliged." before going back to the Ravenwood campus.