Sweet Apple Acres, home to the Apple Family. Applejack was proud of it. She had faced many threats to her home and even made five wonderful friends. Today was another day of apple bucking and she never grew tired of it. She was soon joined by her big brother, Big Macintosh.
"Nice morning huh, Big Mac?" She asked.
"Eeyup!" He said, nodding.
"I don't think I'll get tired of seeing this." Apple Bloom said, standing next to them.
"I know what ya younglings mean, and I live here a long time!" Granny Smith said, smiling over her family farm.
"Well, them apples won't buck themselves!" Applejack said.
"Eenope!" Big Mac smirks.
"Oh, Applejack, wait a minute!" Apple Bloom said, stopping her.
"What is it, Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked.
"I remembered that I'm heading over to Zercoa's for an alchemy lesson, later today. I will be back before sundown, though." Apple Bloom told her.
Applejack looked a bit worried about her sister heading into the Everfree Forest by her lonesome, but she then remember that Apple Bloom was just as stubborn as her. Plus, she knew Zecora wouldn't let anything hurt her.
"Alright, but you better keep your promise, ya hear me?" Applejack said.
"I will! Thanks, sis!" Apple Bloom said, hugging her.
Applejack sighs before smiling. Things were tough since their parents were gone. Applejack had to raise Apple Bloom on top of taking care of the farm. She knows Apple Bloom is still young, but she can't keep treating her like a filly. She returned the hug before everyone headed out to buck some trees.
It was a few hours and a dozen of buck apple trees later that Apple Bloom had to meet with Zecora. Applejack watches her sister run off before sighing.
"Are ya okay, Applejack?" Big Mac asked.
"Yeah. I'm still not at ease with Apple Bloom heading into the Everfree Forest by herself, even if she just meeting with Zecora." She said.
"Me too, but she's growin' up. We can't keep treating her like a young filly." Big Mac said.
"I know, I know." Applejack sighs.
"Hey, Applejack!"
Applejack turns and saw Rainbow Dash flying down.
"Heya, Big Mac." She said, making the big stallion nod.
"Howdy, Rainbow Dash. What's going on?" Applejack asked.
"Twilight is calling us together about a meeting. I don't know really. She was saying a lot of things I couldn't make out." Rainbow said.
"Meaning you were half listening to her, right?" Applejack said, knowing her well.
"Yeah, whatever. Let's go. You know how Twilight gets when we all don't show up on time." Rainbow said, rolling her eyes.
Applejack laughs to herself before following Rainbow Dash. Big Mac told her he'll let Granny Smith know and keep an eye out for Apple Bloom's return.
"Okay, we're all here, you can relax Twilight," Rainbow said as she and Applejack enter the Ponyville Oak Library.
"That was one time, Rainbow!" Twilight groans, remembering how she freak out about her friends not showing up on time without remembering something could catch their attention and couldn't ignore it.
"So, what's up, Twilight?" Applejack asks.
"Is it something scary?" Fluttershy asked, hoping not to deal with that.
"Silly, filly! If it was scary, then Twilight would look more worried!" Pinkie Pie said, smiling.
"True, but let's hear her out, girls." Rarity said.
"Okay, Princess Celestia just send me a letter about celebrating Luna's return in a few days. I know this Pinkie's thing, but she wants all six of us to make it." Twilight said.
"Has it really been 3 years since we freed Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon?" Rarity asked, surprised.
"Tell me about it. It felt like yesterday when we first travel through the Everfree Forest." Pinkie Pie said.
"That's an adventure none of us will forget." Applejack nods.
The rest agreed, remembering their first adventure in finding the Elements of Harmony and freeing Princess Luna.
"Okay, here's what the princess wants us to do..." Twilight said before going over the ideas she was told.
Applejack returns to the farm a few hours later, thinking over her choice of Princess Luna's return party. Pinkie could handle the sweets and Rarity got the invites. Fluttershy was to get her animal friends to sing and Rainbow was to help with the detections. That left Applejack to make the rest of the food since Luna liked apples. When she reached her home, she notices Big Mac and Granny Smith were looking worried.
"Is everything okay?" She asked, noticing that Apple Bloom hasn't returned yet.
"We hope so. It's almost sundown and Apple Bloom is taking a little too long." Big Mac said.
"I may not know that Zecora like the rest of you, but I do know she'll never harm a hair on Apple Bloom's head." Granny Smith said.
Applejack understood their worry. She knew Apple Bloom has traveled through the Everfree Forest by herself lots of times, but there were dangers there.
"I'll go look for her." She said, hoping Apple Bloom wasn't in any trouble.
"Are you sure, Applejack?" Big Mac asked.
"I travel through the Everfree Forest more than any pony. I know what to look out for." Applejack said.
Though both members were unsure, they nodded. Knowing they knew what Applejack was doing.
"I'll be back before Princess Luna raises the moon," Applejack said before rushing over to the Everfree Forest.
"I do hope she hurries back. Timberwolves become a bit more active at night." Granny Smith said, hearing a howl.
Applejack made it to the Everfree Forest and started to head for Zecora's. Since she knew the path as well as Apple Bloom, finding her shouldn't be too hard. Applejack walked down the path, keeping an ear out for her little sister.
"I do hope Apple Bloom is okay. Maybe I should start having Zecora bring her back from now on." Applejack said to herself.
She kept walking, listening, and looking for anything that could tell her where Apple Bloom was. She then froze when she heard a familiar howl.
"Timberwolves," She gulps, hoping Apple Bloom wasn't by them.
"HEEEEEEEEEEEELP!"
"APPLE BLOOM?!"
Applejack didn't wait, she quickly ran toward the sound of her sister's voice. She jump over fallen trees, ducked in branches, and even zig-zag around some trees.
It didn't take her long to stop near a small cliff and looked around. She then looked down to see Apple Bloom trapped by a few Timberwolves, growling at her.
"HEY!" Applejack shouted, making everyone look up.
"Git away from my sister!" She said, jumping down.
"Applejack!" Apple Bloom shouted, happy to see her.
"Get ready to run, Apple Bloom!" Applejack said, knowing she couldn't fight off a whole pack by herself.
One of the Timberwolves jumps towards Applejack, only to receive a buck to its face. Applejack stood ready, trying to find a hole. She sees it and backs up.
"Grab on." She said, lowering herself.
Nodding, Apple Bloom quickly got on her sister's back. Counting down in her head, Applejack took off, slipping under two timberwolves before they could react.
Applejack ran through the forest, knowing the Timberwolves were causing after them. Much like the time she saved Spike, Applejack uses the trees to knock some of them away and even kicked a few rocks at them, knocking some of their legs off.
Applejack smiles, glad to see that the timberwolves weren't much smarter than last time. However, she was shocked when one Timberwolf suddenly jumped out of the trees and opened its jaws. Applejack flinch as she threw up a hoof to protect herself. The Timberwolf bit down on it causing her to scream.
Apple Bloom notices and quickly reacts. She headbutts the timberwolf, actually getting it back off. Applejack hissed as she held her hoof. Apple Bloom rubbed her head, feeling a headache coming. However, the Timberwolf pack soon caught up and surrounds the Apple siblings. Applejack tried to stand, but her hoof still hurt. However, before the Timberwolves could try anything, something was thrown in front of them, causing a huge smoke to appear. Both anypony could do anything, Applejack and Apple Bloom were both swept away before the smoke faded.
Once the smoke faded, the Timberwolves saw that their prey was gone. Some looked around and others started to sniff the ground. Little did they know, Applejack and Apple Bloom were sitting up in the trees, with a very strange-looking pony.
It looks at them and notices Applejack bitten hoof. It looks closer at her before speaking.
"Sister..."
It soon retreated to the trees, leaving the two ponies confused.
"Who was that?" Apple Bloom asked.
"No idea," Applejack said, still holding her hoof.
However, they saw a vine lower itself to the ground. Confused, they slid down it. Applejack had to bit more careful as she had to watch her hoof. She was also surprised to see some medicine close by for her hoof. Confused even more, Both siblings put the medicine on Applejack's hoof, not knowing they were being watched by some very strange ponies in the trees.
"Bit by a wolf. Will become a wolf. Protect your pack. And raise, dear sister."
Applejack and Apple Bloom returned to the farm, with Granny Smith noticing her eldest granddaughter's hoof. However, when they told her about the strange pony, Granny Smith was surprised.
"Tree Ponies." She said.
"Tree Ponies?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Very odd ponies. My father told me stories about those kind of ponies. He said they live in the trees watching many ponies travel through their forest. Only stepping in should they harm them. I've never seen them myself, but hearing one help you after being attacked by Timberwolves is surprising." She said.
"Strange enough, one of them called me "sister"," Applejack said.
Granny Smith looked surprised, but Apple Bloom suddenly yawned.
"I guess we can talk about this later. Let's hut the hay everypony." Applejack said, carefully holding her hoof.
The rest of the family nods, still surprised by the Trees Ponies living in the Everfree Forest. Applejack was thinking of telling Twilight what happen in the morning. As of right now, she has to take it easy and let her hoof heal.
She had no idea that there was more to the bite than she knew.
Author's Note
And I finally got this started. I would like to thank LupineSpirit for the idea of how Applejack gets bitten. The Tree Ponies was something I made up on the fly. I'll try to remember to use them as I'm thinking they are the ones that will help train Applejack with her new Timberwolf form. I really need to spend more time on FIMfiction again.
Applejack had a hard time walking with one of her hooves in a cast. The next morning, Applejack had to head to the hospital in order to make sure her hoof was fine. When she explained to the doctors what happened and how she was given medicine, they were unsure about her story. However, they knew Applejack never lies. Still, they checked on her hoof and saw that it was healing and nothing was wrong with it. However, she had to avoid using it. So they put it in a cast and told her to lay off work for a few weeks.
She tried to argue but stopped herself. She remembered what happened when Rainbow hurt herself and knew better not to make her hoof worse. It was awkward walking on three hooves instead of all four, but she had to suck up her pride and deal with it. She was on her way to Twilight's to inform her what happened yesterday.
However, Applejack's mind went to a strange dream she had that night. It was so strange, she found her at her farm, working away happily. Then a pack of timberwolves appeared and attacked her. Then another Timberwolf appeared and forced the others away. The last thing she saw was the Timberwolf's face before the rooster woke her up.
'It was so strange. Why was that timberwolf looking at me? She thought before sighing.
Maybe I'll talk to Princess Luna about it at her surprise party. She thought.
Applejack made it to the library and sighed. She couldn't knock without one of her hooves to keep herself from falling. With no other choice, and hoping she doesn't get a headache later, she uses her head to knock. The door soon opened and Spike saw her.
"Hey, Apple..."
He stopped when he saw her hoof.
"Whoa! What happened!?" Spike said, pointing to her hoof.
"It's a bit of a long story. Is everypony here?" Applejack said.
"Y-Yeah." He said, looking worried.
Applejack carefully stepped inside and almost tripped. Luckily, Spike quickly caught her, using his dragon strength to keep himself from getting crushed by her body.
"Thank ya, Spike." Applejack nods.
Spike nods back before leading her to the others.
"Twilight, Applejack is here," Spike said, seeing that she was on her list again.
"Thanks, Spike. Why don't you take some rest? We can handle the rest." Twilight said, not looking up.
Spike sighs before looking at Applejack. Applejack nods, knowing that she has to explain this now.
"Twil, you need to stop focusing on your list," Applejack said.
"I'm just double-checking everything." She said, not looking up.
"Not even if I got hurt?" Applejack asked, surprising her.
"Hurt?" She asked, looking up and seeing her friend hoof in a cast.
"Applejack?! What happened?!" She asked, shocked.
"Git the others. It's been to tell everypony at once." Applejack said, sighing.
Once the rest of the Mane 6 were there and saw Applejack's cast hoof, she told the story of what happened to her yesterday. All of her friends were shocked.
"Does it hurt?" Fluttershy asked, worried for her.
"A little. Doctors say Ah have to take it easy for a few weeks. Which won't be easy for me." She said.
"Man, I can't believe those timberwolves bit you! Where are they?! I'll teach them to bite my friends!" Rainbow said, looking for a fight.
"Rainbow Dash, please!" Rarity said before looking at the cast.
"I don't really approve of the bland color, but even I'm sorry about your hoof, dear." She said.
"It's fine, Rarity," Applejack said, sighing.
"OH! Can we sigh it?!" Pinkie asked, pulling some makers out of her mane.
"Um, sure?" Applejack said, reminding herself that Pinkie was just being herself.
Pinkie signed it first before the others did. However, Twilight was looking through her books. She recalled something Applejack said in her stories.
"Trees Ponies. Tree Ponies." She said, remembering to look under the T section.
"Twilight? Aren't you going to sign Applejack's cast?" Pinkie asked as Rarity signed it next.
"In a minute. I never heard of Tree Ponies before." She said, finding nothing.
"Well, Granny Smith said they live in the trees and are rarely seen by other ponies. The ones that save me and Apple Bloom live in the Everfree Forest." Applejack said.
"And they called you sister?" Rainbow asked.
"I'm just as confused as you all," Applejack said.
"I better let the princess know about this. Is that okay, Applejack?" Twilight said.
"Sure," Applejack said, kind of hoping she could thank them for saving both hers and Apple Bloom.
Little did any of them know, a Tree Pony watching them from the leaves of the library. Her eyes turned to Applejack, seeing that the ponies around her was her pack.
"Be ready, sister. For tonight, the beast will awaken. She said.
Applejack returned home later that evening. She saw Big Mac and Apple Bloom finishing the last of their chores when they spotted her.
"Howdy, sis. Are you alright?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Yeah. It's going to be a bit hard to not being able to work." Applejack said, sighing.
"The doctors told ya to take it easy, so take it easy, ya hear?" Big Mac said, sounding much like a big brother.
"I'll try," Applejack said, sighing.
"Did ya eat already?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Shota. I'm feeling a bit famish right now." Applejack said, trying to hold her stomach.
"Augh, I still can't get the hang of this!" She groans.
Big Mac helped her walk back to the farm as Apple Bloom rode in the cart. The Tree Pony watched from the trees, knowing it would happen very soon.
After a nice meal and a quick wash, Applejack retreated to her room. She had a bit of trouble walking upstairs until Apple Bloom helped her. Once she got to her room, she flipped her hat off her head and used her tail to toss it onto the rack.
"Heh, don't need my hooves to do that." She said.
Applejack couldn't remove her hairbands and carefully lay down in her bed.
"Well, Applejack...you better get used to this for a few weeks." She said, sighing.
She turned to look outside and saw Luna's moon. It was looking a bit bigger tonight. Maybe as thanks to those who have taken their time to see the night sky. However, Applejack couldn't take her eyes off it. The longer she stared at the moon, the more...wild she felt.
Applejack rolled off her bed and walked to the window. The moon started to shine and Applejack felt a huge pain shoot through her body. She bent over, trying to fight it, but it hurt more than she thought. She was so busy fighting the pain she didn't see wooden bark covering her hooves, turning them into claws. Her cast ripped apart as the wood formed over it. Applejack's ears change as well, looking more like leaves. She started growling as her teeth turned into fangs and her eyes started to glow green.
The pain stopped and Applejack was breathing hard. When she looked up, she was different. She suddenly howled before jumping through the window, breaking it, and landing on the ground. She looked around and started to smell something in the air. With another growl, she followed the scent.
The Tree Pony watched her, knowing that the first night was always the hardest. She started to run across the trees, knowing she needed to keep an eye on their new sister.
Author's Note
And here's the next chapter. Applejack went to the hospital and she was told to take it easy for a few weeks so it could heal. She told her friends about what happened and Twilight is trying to find something about the Tree Ponies.
And Applejack had transformed into a Timberpony. However, the Tree Pony that saved her and Apple Bloom is watching over her. And I haven't thought of a name for her, yet. If you have any ideas, please share.
