Chapter 1

A pony woke up in her bed with a loud yawn, blinking open her olive green eyes. Warm sunlight streamed through the window, warming her fuzzy, light orange coat. She hopped out of bed, and began her morning routine of brushing her teeth, combing her mane and tail, and securing the ends of both with red rubber bands. She skipped down the stairs and feeling excitement rushing through her tiny body, her tail and mane streaming out behind her. She got to the bottom of the stairs, and took a few more steps to enter the kitchen.

"Good morning, Mama, good morning, Papa!" she greeted her parents. Two grown ponies turned to look at her. One was a beautiful blonde mare, with a lush golden mane, and large, hazelnut-brown eyes, fringed with long, dark lashes. She was at the stove, a kettle steaming, and a pan with milk boiling. Her cutie mark was a small pink apple. The stallion had a dark orange coat, and a lighter orange color for his mane and tail. His cutie mark was a large dark red apple.

"Good morning, precious," the blonde mare said in a pretty Southern drawl. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yup, as always, ma'am!" the young pony replied. "What are we eating for breakfast?"

"Your breakfast is on the table, Applejack," the red stallion replied. "Oat cereal with apple slices."

"Okay." Applejack went to the wooden table and sat down. Her older brother, Big Macintosh, was nibbling on some whole wheat bread, with some apple butter spread on it.

"Good morning," the large, crimson pony mumbled through his toast.

"Good morning," Applejack replied to her older brother.

"Are you ready for your first day of school?" Applejack's mother asked, pouring the boiled milk into a glass, adding a straw, then handing it to Applejack. Applejack gleefully took the milk and took large sips from it.

"Oh, yes, ma'am!" Applejack exclaimed. "I can't wait to start!"

"That's the spirit, Applejack," her father praised her. "Well done."

"I wonder if I'll get my cutie mark this year!" Applejack said, a little in awe. She glanced at her brother, eying his half-green apple with envy. "I wonder what it will be."

"You'll get your cutie mark when the time is right." Her mother reassured her with a flick of her tail.

"As soon as you realize the aspects of who you are, you will get your cutie mark." Her father said with a curt nod.

"But I know who I am!" Applejack said with her head cocked. "I'm Applejack!"

Her mother chuckled. "Of course you are, my sweet apple seed! Now, you and Macky better start heading to school!

"Better to get their bright and early, than not." Her father said, from his large red chair in the living room. He had immersed himself in reading daily newspaper, The Pony Express.

"You might even make some new friends," her mother added.

"Are you ready?" Big Macintosh asked, already at the door with his dark brown backpack.

Applejack quaffed the rest of her milk, and her mother helped her into her new shiny red backpack, which held a new notebook, folder, and a pencil, as well as her lunchbox (also new and red) which contained her delicious homemade midday meal. Applejack's mother nuzzled her in farewell, and Applejack and Big Mac went out the door and headed towards town. Applejack heart soared as she skipped alongside her older brother. She couldn't wait to see all the different ponies and make tons of new friends. She knew she would learn so much, and she would tell everything to her parents. She glanced up at her older brother, who was dazedly chewing on a long wheat stalk. She turned back ahead, seeing many other ponies of all different shapes, sizes, and colors, collecting in front of a huge building. There were huge words on the building, she knew, but she didn't know what they said, yet. She wanted to ask her brother, but he was already looking down on her, and speaking.

"Right before school starts, Mrs. Ponysworth will call for all the new first years," he said. "You make sure you go to her, you hear? You don't want to be getting lost on the first day, now, do you?"

Applejack shook her head reverently. "I won't, Big Macintosh!"

Big Macky nodded with satisfaction. "Good," he said. "Now, you have a good day, now, okay? We'll walk home together after school."

"Okay! Bye!" Applejack called, as her brother galloped away into the crowd. She tried to watch him through the crowd, but she lost him. She supposed he had friends in his own year. Speaking of friends, she thought, she might try to find some ponies in her year! She looked around curiously, trotting along, hoping to find some ponies not already locked in conversation. She didn't want to be rude, and interrupt. There were so many different ponies, some with unicorn horns, some with Pegasus wings, some normal ponies like her. They were all different colors, and their manes were all different. Applejack was overwhelmed, but in an entirely good way. She knew nothing had really happened yet, but what was to complain about? It was going pretty well!