Hi! Hyena King here! Here's my third story. This is the episode "Over a barrel" which, of course, includes my favorite pair of pegasi Thunder and Lightning. The difference is that this story will be separated into two parts. The first part is where I follow the episode as canonically as possible. The second I,m keeping secret for now, but I 'll give you this one hint. It will eventually have BraburnxLittleStrongheart A pairing that I think is downplayed a great deal. Will, without further ado, here's chapter 1!

"And so the little yellow bird said to himself,"Well, my little old tree ain't so little anymore", and so..." At the back of a train heading for Appaloosa, Applejack was reading a bedtime story to an apple tree, which was for some reason in a bed. Beside her stood Lightning Flash, a big smile directed towards the tree as Applejack finished the story. After Applejack concluded the story, Lightning tucked it in, then they stood back and looked upon the tree with big smiles. Between the two of them, the ponies looked like proud parents.

"It seems only yesterday that he was a little sapling." Lightning said, sniffling a little as he said it. " and now he's all grown up." Applejack responded, being on the verge of tears herself. "We must really treasure these times," Lightning continued, "Argh, I wish I knew how to scrapbook!"

"Applejack! Lightning!"

Both ponies were startled out of their moment by the diva of fashion herself, Rarity. "Were you reading a bedtime story to an apple tree?" she demanded, a little cranky about something. The two ponies stammered for a second before Applejack answered. "Well, being replanted in a whole new place is very upsetting for an apple tree." she explained. "And Bloomburg here is one of our favorites." Lightning finished. Lightning sighed. "I remember the day we first planted him."

"Yeah," Applejack said, sighing herself. "I planted him right on the fringe of the apple orchard."

"And I dug the hole that he went in"

Rarity just stared at them for a moment. Then, "No fair, you guys! You have a luxurious, privat sleeper for a tree, while I,m crowded and cramped in the same car with all the other ponies." She went straight up to the other ponies faces. "How am I going to get my beauty sleep?" She asked, giving them an irritated look.

"Get over it." Lightning said simply. "Besides, Bloomburg's the whole reason were making this trip." Applejack added. "He needs his rest so we can give him as a gift for my relatives in Appaloosa." "I was there for his planting and I,m going to make darn sure that he makes it OK so I can be there for his replanting." Lightning said, holding his chin up high.

"H mph, you guys talk about it like it's your baby or something" Rarity pointed out. The two ponies gasped at this. "Who're you calling a baby!?" they both said at the same time. "Bloomburg's no baby!" Applejack said defensively. Both she and Lightning went to Bloomburg and began to cuddle it. "Don't let Rarity make you all saddy waddy." Applejack cooed. "Bloomburg's a big strong apple tree."

"Yes you are, yes you are," Lightning continued, "We love you. We're proud of you." The rest degenerated to baby talk as the two continued there affections on the tree. Rarity just stared for a moment, then became angry. "It's little Rarity that's all saddy waddy." with that, she gave a cry of frustration and left, leaving the two ponies with their "baby".

And there you go. So, how,m I doing so far? Before you say anything, I,m not going for ApplejackxLightning, I just thought this would be funny to see. Besides, I like to keep you guys guessing. R&R please!