DISCLAIMER: My Little Pony: Friendship if Magic is property of Hasbro.

Chapter I

As Celestia and Luna began to lower the sun and raise the moon, respectively, far below the heavens, outside the small town of Ponyville on a farm called "Sweet Apple Acres", Applejack stood atop a hill near her farmhouse, surveying the vast orchard composed of rows of apple trees for as far as she could see. Applejack and her brother, Big MacIntosh, had been bucking apples since dawn, with her little sister, Apple Bloom, gathering the fallen apples into a basket. Bucking season was the busiest time of the year for the Smith family, and this year was proving to be one of the most bountiful harvests since even Granny Smith could remember. Indeed, despite working almost the entire day, only having a short lunch break around midday, only about a quarter of the apples had been harvested. Bucking season was also one of Applejack's favourite times of year. Despite the soreness in her muscles and the sweat and grime covering her body, Applejack felt the satisfying type of weariness that marked a productive day and that led to a restful night's sleep to recharge before continuing the work the next day when Celestia raised the sun. Literally harvesting the fruits of one's labour to be eaten as apple pies, apple fritters, apple crumble and apple cobbler, drunken as apple cider, or even just simply eaten as a raw apple, not only by herself and her family, but by the rest of Ponyville for a shiny bit, made Applejack smile as she turned away from the fields and made her way to the farmhouse to eat supper, wash up and sleep in her comfy bed.

A couple of hours later, with the moon high in the sky, two ponies made their way through the darkness to the edge of the orchard. One pony, her bright pink visible even in the silvery moon light, bounced excitedly, carrying a large bad. The other pony walked in a more subdued manner, jumping at each shadow and bump in the night. Eventually the two ponies stopped in a clearing besides the orchard.

"This is a perfect spot, Fluttershy! Away from the lights of Ponyville, we can see these fireworks great out here," said the pink pony, opening the bag.

"You know...um...I kinda don't like loud noises...wouldn't Rainbow Dash appreciate all of those fireworks from a third-world country more, Pinkie?" asked the yellow pegasus nervously in a soft voice.

"Well...I would have asked her...but she said she was too busy training for the Wonderbolts...Rarity is too dainty to risk getting powder on her hooves...Twilight would rather read about fire works than actually lit a few...and Applejack is busy bucking...so that left you, out of all my friends, to enjoy this bag of third-world fireworks I brought from that pedlar with me!" explained Pinkie bouncing excitedly as she looked at the various fire crackers, rockets, and Roman candles. Pulling out some sparklers, Pinkie handed one to Futtershy.

"Here, this should be more your size," she said, lighting the tip of the sparkler, sparks spraying out as they worked their way down.

"This isn't so bad, he he," smiled Fluttershy, enjoying her little light show.

"That's the spirit! Let Auntie Pinkie handle the heavy artillery," replied Pinkie. Fluttershy was about to respond she was a year older than Pinkie, but decided against it. Pinkie was nice to invite her to enjoy the fireworks, and was thoughtful to give her a combustible she could handle. Pinkie never meant anypony harm, so Fluttershy let the comment slide.

While Fluttershy was lighting another sparkler, Pinkie was inserting the base of a large blue rocket with red tip into the ground. Grabbing a spare lighter, she flicked the flint a few times before the flame came out, and lit the fuse to the large rocket.

"Fire in the hole!" yelled Pinkie excitedly as the fuse made its way to the rocket. Then the rocket blasted high into the air, exploding with a loud boom and an explosion of red sparks. The loud explosion spooked Fluttershy, who flew her lit sparkler as she ducked into the ground. As if in slow motion, Pinkie screamed "NO!" as the sparkler slowly fell into the pile of fireworks. Jumping as far back as she could, Pinkie covered her head when the pile lit up in a huge explosion of sparks, sending bright trails of lights in every direction, including some into the nearby apple trees. Soon flames erupted from the trees and quickly spread. Soon a huge fire was raging throughout the orchard.

"Uh oh..." said Pinkie, uncharacteristically quietly as the flames reflected on her large eyes.

"What in the hay did you two do?" suddenly came Applejack's voice. Pinkie's mouth hung open like a fish gasping for water.

"Um...we kinda had some fireworks...and...um...I dropped a sparkler..." answered Fluttershy timidly. The already upset Applejack gritted through her teeth

"Pinkie Pie...Fluttershy," before turning around, lifting her hind legs, and kicked Pinkie square in the face, sending the pink mare flying at least ten feet back. Fluttershy gasped at Applejack's lashing out.

"Applejack, I know you're upset, but there is no need for violence!" Fluttershy got out before a set of back hooves connected with her body, and the world went black.