The sun rose over Ponyville and the breeze blew through the trees. The sun beams shined through the window of the bedroom of a little blonde filly. Her walls decorated with painted apples, her bed sheets with little apple blossoms. Her door creaked open and a dark brown stallion stood in the doorway."Get up lil apple" he said. Applejack opened her eyes and yawned. "Daddy!" She jumped out of bed and nuzzled him. "Is today the day i get to go buck the apples with you and Big Mac?" the little filly asked eagerly."Now AJ, Be patient." " But dad! i got my cutie mark and its about time i helped with the harvest!" said Applejack proudly. After breakfast ; Applejack, Big Macintosh, and their dad went out to the orchard. Applejack began kicking a big tree but no apples were falling. Her dad walked up to her. " AJ, you gotta put all your power into one spot and you gotta kick real hard to get em to fall." Applejack kicked and kicked. " You did it lil apple!" exclaimed her dad. Applejack spun around to see that she, in fact had made one apple fall. She felt so proud that she could help. She took the apple and ran to the farm house. "Granny Smith! I did it!" She ran up to her Granny. Her granny was rocking a little bundle of blankets. Applejack walked up to the little filly being rocked and showed her the apple. "Look Applebloom I did it!" She said quietly. Granny Smith smiled. " Thats a great job AJ! Youre gonna be bucking through those fields as fast as your brother now!" she said. Later, after Granny Smith had fed and and put Applebloom to bed The Family decided to play checkers. "Got ya again Big Mac!" said Applejack. "Hey AJ play fair" said Big Mac. A knock at the door silenced them. Their dad got up."now who in thunderation could that be?'' He wondered aloud. He opened the door and a stallion in a white and green uniform saluted him. Granny Smith looked at the confused youngsters. " Go to bed lil ones" she said as she looked back to the uniformed stallion. Big Mac got up and walked to his room. Applejack stayed. "But Granny!" She whined. Granny Smith spun around. "Bed Applejack!" said Granny Smith sternly. Applejack walked to her room, looking stunned. Applejack watched out her window as the Uniformed stallion got into the carriage and rode away. She hopped from her window sill and snuck down to the middle step of the hallway. "Canterlot!" her Granny said. " Yes. Theres trouble there and I gotta go." said Applejacks dad. Granny Smith looked sad. "What about the kids? What about the farm?" Granny Smith asked. Applejack Had heard enough; She went upstairs and began to pack a bag. Back downstairs, the dark brown Stallion had his head in his hooves. The next morning their dad went into Big Mac's room. "Son, you gotta do somethin." Big Mac looked confused. "ok" said Big Mac. His dad looked at his son, who was still just a colt. "You gotta help your Granny with the farm and your sisters." Big Mac sat on the bed. "Dad i do that anyways. why are ya tellin me now?" Asked Big Mac. His dad looked at him. "Son i gotta go to canterlot. Theres trouble." His dad reached over and pulled a medal out of his bag. "Son, I'm part of the Royal Guard and when theres trouble i gotta go fix it. I was awarded this medal for bravery and now im awarding it to you cause you gotta be brave and you are brave." said his dad. Big Mac looked down at the medal. "Dad, I'm gonna be brave and strong and help here while you go fix the trouble. I'll take care of things round here." Big Mac said as he puffed out his chest.He felt brave...but wanted to cry deep down. Applejacks door creaked open and she jolted awake. "Now lil apple whyre you sleepin with your bag?" her dad asked. Applejack looked at her dad, tears in her eyes. "Cause i heard Granny say that you had to go to Canterlot! and im going too." she said. Applejack began to cry. "They cant have you. Youre needed here! you cant leave like mama!" cried Applejack. He sat on his daughters bed. " Now lil apple, Your Mama didnt wanna go..she didnt have choice." her dad explained. Applejack crossed her arms. "But Applebloom was ok!" she said. Her dad sighed. "Your Mama got sick when Applebloom was born. Now AJ, your mama aint gone. She's in your heart and she watchin you and your brother and sister." Applejack sighed. "I can help in Canterlot Im a big pony after all..i even got my cutie mark!." she said. "Is that why your bag is out?" her dad asked. Applejack nodded. " AJ you cant come with me. Theres trouble and I gotta help." Applejack nodded. Her dad took his hat off his head and put it on her head. "Lil apple, Youre my cowgirl and you gotta help here at home. You gotta help your Granny and brother ok?" Applejack hugged her dad. "Ok Daddy" she said sadly as she unpacked her things. He closed the door to Applejacks room and made his way to Appleblooms nursery. He smiled at the little filly fast asleep in her crib. He reached in his bag and placed a little stuffed toy beside her and a pink hair ribbon on her nightstand. "Now you be good lil Applebloom. You get big you go on to school and learn all you can like you brother and sister." He kissed her head and walked into the Kitchen as he wiped the tears from his eyes. He didnt want to leave his family and he knew his kids needed him here but he was called to duty and had to go. He sat down at the table as Granny Smith passed him a cup of coffee. ''Are you ready?''She asked. ''Nope'' he replied.
