I would like to give you one last chance to avoid reading this story. It's not a bad story, not at all. It's simply not what most people are looking for.

Whoops too late now you're in it okay see you in the next one Zeke out.

It was early, and Granny Smith was yelling.

Still half-asleep, Applejack barely listened. It was something about how unhealthy it was to stay out all night, even if there was work to be done. That the whole reason they worked so hard was so they could have nice, warm beds, and if you're just going to sleep in the barn, what's the point? That when SHE was a young mare...

It would have suited them just fine to be back in the farmhouse right now. But apples were coming up missing lately, even whole trees picked clean. Applejack and Big Macintosh had spent the whole day working on defenses to catch the perpetrator. It had been one of those days you read about people having, but nopony ever seems to have. A feeling like they're not alone. Finding out the thief isn't just hungry. Personal revelations, about why time after time she'd go back to where she left her greatest treasure, always planning to take it back but never doing so.

And then for just a minute they saw him. Applejack was quick but the thief was quicker. Lucky thing AJ and Big Mac were both smarter, and they were ready. Now they had the box back, but someone had seen what they were never meant to see, and nothing would ever be the same. And the thief was still out there, but now they had an idea what they were up against, they'd catch him for sure this time. They just needed to prepare.

That's right. A lot of work today. Applejack shook herself awake, and Granny Smith smiled. "Good to see you understand me. Just try to be in at a decent hour from now on. Early to bed, you know. Come on, have some breakfast before you go to work again." Having said her piece, she made her way out of the barn and back toward the farmhouse.

Applejack nudged the big, red foreleg draped across her body. Its big, red owner slowly raised his head, barely able to move after they'd both worked themselves to exhaustion. "Mm...? AJ?"

Craning her head up, Applejack kissed her brother on the chin. "C'mon, Big Mac," she said. "It's a brand new day."

He angled his head down and returned the kiss to her lips. "Eyup."