The afternoon sun shone above the orchard workers at Sweet Apple Acres. Bright Mac was proud of his little son giving the apple tree another kick.

"Yeah, that's it! You're awesome!" – He scratched the boy's head

"Hah, stop, dad!" – Big Mac said, laughing. "It was just a stronger kick."

"Yeah, but it was the strongest so far. And we've been doing this for hours. Oh, how thirsty." – He sighed heavily, until he looked to the side. Like a miracle, their special mare brought them a bucket of water, and at the same time carrying they little baby on her back.

"Well, fresh water for my two boys." – She smiled as they both drank the water quickly.

"Heh, that's much better. Thanks there!" – Brigth got up poking Pear Butter's cheek with her snout.

"Wow, it's been such a quiet day." - He said.
"Yeah...really. That's weird." – Pear Butter looked around, observing everything, a little worried. – It's too quiet... More than it should."

Only half a minute passed of absolute silence, even Big Mac had closed his eyes very serenely. This silence was interrupted by a fight between Grandma Smith and a worker. This worker was holding Jackie by the hooves.

"I was working, she started messing with all the harvest!" – He said, with a frown.

"I... Ah didn't do anything! You don't watch where you're going... Hmm... I was going to get a cutie mark, but you showed up just in time!" – Jackie replied, stamping her little hooves on the ground.

"Cutie mark of someone who drops BUCKETS FULL OF APPLES INTO THE PLACE OF PIGS?!? THAT?!"

"You will NEVER understand!" – Jackie whimpered because of that scream. - "Let go of me!"

"Well, I guess you shouldn't complain about that to me." – Said Grandma Smith – "You know I'm the owner of the farm, but I'm old, damn it!"

"That's it, we should talk to your dad!" – The worker turned to Jackie, he still didn't let her go.

But soon, some footsteps could be heard, and a now thick voice of a strong stallion broke the worker's morale. – "Tell me what exactly?"

The worker hesitated a little, but then said something. – "Ah, yes, your daughter helped me a lot! To drop a bucket full of apples into the pigsty!"

At that moment, Jackie shrank back, not knowing where to hide her own snout.

"Ya know. Yelling at her won't make the apples come back. If it's about the salary, I pay more. But you won't mess with my daughter anymore."

Jackie smiled at her father, but was reprimanded without another smile in return, which made her ears twitch back. - "And even?" – continued the worker. – "What about all my wasted work?"

"You want a vacation and you don't know how to ask for it." – Brigth Mac quipped. – "Okay, you're free for today. Let's go home, Jackie. Just follow me now."

She hesitated, hearing the worker suppress some laughter. She felt so much less than everyone at that moment. Just following.

"But, daaad..." – She lowered her head, but still tried to protest.

"Sit here." – Brigth Mac said after giving a tired sigh. – "This, right here next to me." – She obeyed, sitting on that rock at his height.

"Look, I know what he said, but you can tell your point of view."
"Point of view?"
"Yeah, it's, like, your side of the story."
"Oh!" – She thought for a moment. – "I was trying to get my cutie mark, but this time I ran! You know, like, as fast as that... Pegasus! I wanna be like them!!"

"You could have tried something that wouldn't have been so much trouble. Or at least gotten a lot closer to the workers." – He thought about what to say at that time. – "Why didn't you try it in your treehouse?"

"It's just that being trapped is really bad... It's so small there! I wanna explore! Explore everything!!" – She wagged her tail a little, still excited, but soon regained her regretful mood.

Brigth Mac understood her daughter's point of view to a certain extent. But he didn't want to say that she was half right, after all that would harm the teachings.

"But Jackie, anyway, don't come any closer to the workers." – This time he smiled, swaying his mane back. – "Well, that guy is so annoying... He used to pick on me when he was your age!" – He laughed a little, encouraging her to lighten the mood.

Jackie didn't seem to understand very well, she was just pretending, actually. She laughed more at her father's sudden enthusiasm.

"Well, you must not have understood anything, I imagine." – He gave a calm sigh. – "Let's walk a little, Applebloom needs to see more of the world."

"Woah, can she come out to play now?" – Jackie cheered up again, even getting down from the rock and shuffling a little on the ground, and his smile was still there.

"Not yet, at least not like you and Mac."

Then they both walked to the rest of the family, where Pear was teaching Mac some plant uses. It wasn't his type, but he was really interested in it.

"Ah, hi dad. How was it with that guy?" – Little Mac asked, his ears perking up.

"Boring and, such and such...as always." – He laughed, messing up his hat a little. – "Well, who wants to go for a walk today?"

"Mee!"
"Meee twooo!"

The children said in unison, giving Pear Butter an idea, which made her walk home for a bit, but decided against it.

"What's wrong, honey?" – He asked his wife.

"Hhmmm... It's... Kinda weird talking about it. I wanted to make it a picnic..."

"Hm? And what's the problem?" – He laughed softly, covering her with a hoof.
"B-but..." – She was intimidated, speaking a little quietly just so he could hear. – "Yeah... I'm a little... Fat. I should even go on a diet... " – She lowered her snout.
"Oh, darling..." – He stopped himself from laughing – "That's not necessary, as long as your health is good. You will always be beautiful to all of us."
But I, I... I'm getting fatter and fatter." – She leaned against him.
"Did you know that I think you're cuter this way?" – He blushed – "And look, you can't even notice much, then it disappears." – He hugged her.
"Honey..." – She remained very close to him, while they kissed again. How did a silly conversation suddenly turn into a romance?"

"Bleeep!!" – Jackie stuck out his tongue. – "Kisses!"
"I thought that was so... Cool!" – Big Mac, on the other hand, thought it was the most beautiful thing in the world.

"Heyy! Don't peep!" – Brigth Mac joked while his wife laughed softly.

"I have a better idea...how about we go swimming?" – Pear Butter still seemed undecided.

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And after so many conversations, there they were; admiring the breeze that afternoon, while the children played with each other, climbing trees, running, it was really fun for them.

"Woahh" – Brigth Mac yawned – "You know that stuff?"

"Ah, the magican apple?" – She answered him with another question.

"Yeah, yeah. I found a way to go get it, actually." – He continued. "Even though the forest is so dangerous, the timber wolves are hibernating this week. Then we'll be able to get some of those apples!"

"Yeah... I think it could work, yes. I've done it with other subjects." – She lifted her nose, still enjoying the breeze.

"Me too!" – He responded with more confidence. – "So it's decided, this week we're going to collect that apples there."

The little Applebloom cooed on her back, so she picked her up in her arms.

"Awee, how are you?" – She said in a thin voice to caress her girl, who giggled in response. – "She's so pretty! I can't wait to see her playing with her siblings..."

"No need to wait!" – Jackie jumped almost out of nowhere, causing a little scared to her parents.

Then Jackie rubbed her snout lovingly and affectionately against her little sister's plump belly.

"I'm the big sister, and of coooourse I'm going to play with you and take care of you!" – she puffed out her chest, proud. This earned a light chuckle from his parents.

"Eeyup!" – Big Mac also came – “Me too”
"Me two more timeee!" – Jackie continued to be proud.

Big Mac rolled his eyes. Wow, who knew that Applejack would be so annoying after gaining an additional role in the family, huh?

"You're kind of annoying." – He frowned.
"You're annoying two, more timeee!"

"You two are annoying." – Pear Butter said, getting a little bored with his silly fight.

"How about a fight?" – Jackie started again.
"Hah, only if you're going to lose."

They both snorted, making a playful fight, where Mac would let Jackie win on purpose. His father admired this attitude, giving him a wink.

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Author's Note

Another peaceful day after work. ;)