Sweet Apple Acres was a sprawling mass of square plots and wood to the non-observer, but to the Apples, it was stained with the blood, sweat, and tears of each generation. Plots of trees ripe for the fall harvest sat ready in their fields. After the harvest, apples would be cleaned and sorted according to quality. Number twos were set aside for Ponyville baking customers, pressed into cider, or made into any number of items while the prime apples were sold as they were. Apple butter, cider donuts, baking crisp, honey, applesauce, mulling spices, baked chips, slushies, or simple apple juice; an Apple's wares were always in demand, and Ponyville's Applefest was one of the hottest times of the years. Rainbow Dash was always one to buy cider by the case and little else.
Breakfast had cooled a little since her family left for the fields, but with a healthy dose of syrup on the pancakes, Applejack was good to go. With a few apples for the road and some for when she set up the stall, she cantered out the door to hook up the cart. The farm equipment was near the west orchard. It was a good half mile by hoof, but it was closer to all of the fields that required such equipment.
"Shoulda brought it up to the house las' night."
But beggars couldn't be choosers. She unlocked the barn, hitched herself up to the cart, and locked the door on her way out.
"Saddle up, ol' gal."
Autumn had only just begun but the air was still sunny and warm. By the time she entered the town square, the sun had risen enough to release the other early risers from their homes. Ponyville wasn't that big, so to sustain itself, it was primarily a farming town. The florist sisters had already set up their own stand. Other farmhands like Golden Harvest nodded to her as she passed.
"Setting up shop, Applejack?" Golden Harvest asked. Her cart was much smaller than Applejack's, but was stacked full of veggies. What fruits and vegetables the Apples did grow were mostly for home use, or packaged up and sold elsewhere in bulk. They did provide for some local needs, but the carrot-colored maned pony had the market cornered in Ponyville.
"Yup. Permit at home and everythin'."
Mayor Mare required permits for all vendors. It wasn't much, just a little tax to help keep the town running and ensuring charlatans couldn't hawk cheap garbage. The two mares chatted briefly and separated soon after.
Applejack's own stand was a piece of wood and particleboard, but was propped up with enough of Applebloom's elbow grease to keep it sturdy for another year. After twenty minutes of setting up the pieces, it was time to make some money.
"Come right on up, everypony!"
There wasn't that much to sell for the day. What she'd get from the square would be little more than pocket money to tide the family over until Applefest. Still, it wasn't like an Apple to be unfriendly and the stand needed to be set up in advance for next week. Sales would be busiest then, but a few of her regulars stopped by nevertheless.
"A dozen, please. Honey Crisp number twos."
Applejack packed up a dozen apples for Cup Cake as the portly mare passed Applejack her due.
"Thank you kindly, Misses Cake," Applejack said.
Up next in line was Noteworthy, a substitute teacher at Cheerilee's schoolhouse. Music was his forte from what Applejack heard, but the buck only meandered into town once in a blue moon. Still, odd or not, there's no use in being impolite.
"Heya, Noteworthy. What can I getcha?"
He smiled. He was always a quiet fella, and thus Cheerilee's class usually walked all over him every time he subbed in.
"Any cider in stock yet?"
"Nope. Should be all up and bottled a hair before next monday." A date she always tried to hide from Rainbow Dash.
Noteworthy looked down.
"Ummm..."
A line was starting to form behind him.
"Any McIntosh?"
"Sure do!"
"Good. A half bushel."
That would drain all she had for the day, but the customer was always right. Some ponies like Pinkie just preferred to buy in bulk and snack whenever they wanted.
"Alright." She hefted her one and only box off the cart. "All ah got fer now. Thirty four bits."
Noteworthy hadn't moved. She cleared her throat.
"Ahem. Thirty four bits, Noteworthy."
He blinked. He was sweating. Shaking, like a babe sick in the night with fever. His eyes were locked onto her breast with utter, terrified rapture. For just a moment, her mind wandered to different, more carnal reasons he'd stare at her. No, that wasn't it. Something was wrong.
"Uh, Note—"
Noteworthy galloped full bore out of the square. Ponies called after him, Applejack included, but he paid them no heed as he exited the square and soon Ponyville proper without so much as a backward glance.
Ambrosia, the town's tinker and construction guru, stepped up and took Noteworthy's place. Well, guess she wouldn't be getting those extra bits after all. With a huff, Applejack placed the box of McIntosh back on her rickety cart.
"What's his problem?" Ambrosia asked.
"No idea. Asked fer some of mah wares and then ran away. Ah can wrap even my wool-headed noggin around takin' some apples and runnin' off, but ah ain't got the faintest on what's up with him."
"Got caramel apples?"
"Nope. N—"
"Next week, yeah."
The purpose was to set up shop, and with that done early on, it wasn't long until she was out of fruit entirely. Golden Harvest had long since packed up. Other vendors, including Bon Bon and even the Cake family, had started their own stands as time went on. Just as the clock was running close to noon, Applejack sold her last bushel and packed up for the day.
Lashing herself to the cart once again, she began the long and arduous route back home. Her mind returned to Noteworthy as she trudged back.
"Huh. Odd guy."
The market was a necessary and fun part of her day, but it was often a bore. She'd only make money if ponies were willing to buy, and those that did just wanted to buy and head home. Those that wanted to stay made the trip to town worthwhile, and every little morsel of scuttlebutt was what the town thrived on. With such a small place, rumors spread like wildfire and gossip was currency. Any little tidbits of talk, no matter how small, made a pony the most important pony of the day. Noteworthy's sudden flight was likely the only reason she managed to finish up so soon.
There was a little crowd gathering north of town near Twilight's castle, but Applejack's immediate concern was to get home and help Big Mac with the harvest.
"Welp, time's a'wastin'."
Applejack awoke with a start in her bed as a low cry slunk through the air.
"Consarnit."
She flung the blankets and comforter off the bed. It was a coin toss whether the night would be warm enough to leave her window open, and tonight it was. She'd just heard a pony out in the fields.
It was always one of two things. Either some pony was out in the fields looking to steal some scraps before Applefest, or one of her family was out looking after the animals. Critters prowled about at times, even though most tended to stay away from town or the farm. Better safe than sorry, though. It was the one monster you didn't see that mattered most.
Applejack quietly got out of bed and carefully walked down stairs, taking care to avoid the squeaky wooden step. House and barn alike were made of sturdy oak, but both felt their age. Well, the barn did until it met Rainbow Dash.
Outside in the cool night air, Applejack picked up a lantern and lit it with a match. The moon was as full as a pregnant cow's udders and cast enough light to bathe the farm in a light blue glow. Even without the lantern, Applejack could see well enough to navigate around her parked cart. Her trusty rope was hanging up in the barn. Better grab that just in case.
There it was again. It was a pony alright, but lower and deeper. Definitely not Applebloom and most certainly not Granny. Mac? Maybe. He was known to take some late night strolls when he couldn't sleep. The moonlight meant there was no real threat of running into something painful and not seeing it coming.
Rather than hold the lantern in a hoof, she held the handle in her mouth. The farm didn't get thieves all that often, and when they did, most scattered as soon as they saw the light. Applejack cantered west, ears swiveling back and forth to catch the sound.
And again there was the cry. A pony. Loud, growly, and sick, but a pony nevertheless.
It was coming from the old shed that once held the very same cart that was now parked right next to the house. As the lantern dangled to and fro from her mouth, the light bounced off a shiny piece of metal propped up near the door. Applejack set down the lantern to take a peek.
"Ah don't remember you..."
No, not metal. It was a jagged shard of a mirror. There was something odd about it. All mirror she knew were either glass or polished bronze. This one was glass on one side and shiny, polished silver on the other. Something tickled the back of Applejack's mind.
"Twilight has something like this."
That fact brought up another memory. There was something that she should know, should understand. Something that was staring her right in the face.
"Mac...?"
The words died on her lips.
Not once did she look back. Why would she need to? She saw light out of the corner of her eyes. Applebloom's window was soon aglow. As was Granny's. Big Mac's room was dark.
And then it wasn't.
If there was one thing seeped into an Apple's blood, it was fear. These lands were settled by Apples, and they fought for it with blood, sweat, and tears. Bones of many Apples, including Applejack's parents, were buried in these fields. The earth wasn't the enemy here. No, it was the forest.
The ears. Granny Smith was the first to realize it in her youth. Her family's ears were always erect and twisting, searching. It was a defense developed when ponies started disappearing, when this land handed down by the princess herself was known to hold more than game and wild boars. Manticores, timberwolves, and dragons haunted the Everfree. Ponies gobbled up in the night or in broad daylight. It happened time and time again until monsters learned to fear the blossoming settlement that would become Ponyville.
Applejack slipped the glass shard in a loop of rope, but froze as she picked up the lantern. Another noise came from behind the wooden walls.
Chains. Rattling chains and straining wood.
The pony's moans and cries quieted. Applejack took a half step away from the door. Through the old, cracked wooden frame, she could see it was locked. A pony was locked inside, and she had the only key.
Something sniffed within. No, not a pony.
It caught her scent.
The monster within howled and Applejack heard the sound of snapping chains. The wooden door splintered and broke under its might. Wild, snapping jaws lunged for her.
"Big Mac!" Applejack screamed.
The pair of them fell over in a pile of limbs. Claws raked across Applejack's chest and legs. Long, jagged teeth snapped at her throat.
Applejack pushed against its chest with all of her considerable might. It was taking her all to stop the beast from ripping out her throat. The beast screeched in pain. What?
She didn't look a gift horse in the mouth. The moment it howled in pain, Applejack rolled and darted for freedom. Almost immediately she tripped. Her coiled rope entangled them both in the monster's mad dash to end her life.
"C'mon. C'mon!"
She managed to shake herself loose. Barely.
It didn't matter. Applejack took off running, her golden tail whipping through brambles and branches. How could Zecora and Fluttershy navigate the Everfree Forest without a fuss? Heh. She couldn't stop the terrified chuckle that slunk past her lips. The things you think of when runnin' for your life.
A wayward branch snapped across her cheek as she galloped across the west orchard. It was a constant fight against the growth of the Everfree to hold that orchard. The monster's fetid breath stank the air. Even if it wouldn't still long enough to not maul her so she could see it, she could smell it. It's unholy rancor smothered the air.
The beast raged, the beast howled.
"MAC!" Applejack screamed into the night. It whimpered as if her shout pained it. Applejack shouted for her brother again.
The beast tackled her for the second time and its fangs sunk into her bare chest. This time it was Applejack's turn to scream. Her flailing hooves touched the lantern's handle. It was better than nothing. She smashed it over what she assumed to be the monster's head. For a moment she thought it was armored. No, not armor, wood. Timberwolf? A wolf was this violent, let alone without a pack to back it up?
The wolf snarled and howled into the night. Applejack earned a swipe across the cheek for her trouble from thorny paw, a paw that was equal parts flesh and wood.
Just what was this monster?
The bite in her chest burned like fire, a pain that paled in comparison to the agony spreading in her frightened veins. She got up. Her chest hurt and she was scratched up and down her hide, but she was alive. She could see the lights coming in her direction from the house. Winona's barking accompanied them, a cry for her owner's aid.
On some mad impulse, she turned around to look at the mad creature. It's eyes flashed with unholy light and a snarl dripped from its fanged mouth like a creature straight out of hell. Crimson clung to its muzzle and droplets ran down it's jaws. Her own blood or another's, Applejack didn't know. Chains clattered with each bound, the last remnants of its bindings while it lay dormant in her barn.
What drew her eye the most was the bright ichor it left in its wake. The slight twinkle of silver sparkled from its chest. The pain in Applejack's chest peaked and she fell to her knees.
The monster whimpered and slunk back as her family approached. Light and fire were the bane of most monsters. Numbers and surprise were no longer in its favor. Applejack could see wood stitched across its furred hide like a virus. A wolf, very much a timberwolf, but... not. It ducked under some low-hanging branches, it's eldritch eyes watching her as it backed away. As Applejack's family neared, the beast turned tail and ran off into the moonlit night, droplets trailing in its wake. Applejack felt the warmth of a foreleg ensnare her barrel before the darkness claimed her vision.
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Edited by the illustrious Grimm, a writer much better than me.