My Little Pony Friendship is Magic: Family Appreciation Day

A/N: Hey, Dede42 here to post the start of the next story. So, as you know that here in the states, we'll be celebrating Thanksgiving a week from today, and so that means that things are getting busier at both the movie theater, and my other job with my client, who has Autism. Which means that next week, I'll be only able to post on Tuesday as I will be working Thursday morning at the movie theater and spending Thanksgiving with my family…hopefully. Plus next Friday will also be the birthday for my nephew, Cowboy2014.

I know that some of you will be disappointed that there will only be one update next week, but that's how it goes with real life sometimes.

Read, review, and enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything from My Little Pony: Magic is Friendship. I just own any and all characters that I just happen create.

CHAPTER ONE: ZAP APPLE SEASON BEGINS

It was nighttime in Ponyville, the moon was full, timberwolves were howling in the Everfree Forest, and over at Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack was fast asleep in her bed when there was a loud banging and clanging outside. Waking up, she jumped out of her bed to go to the window, and her eyebrows shot upward when she saw Granny Smith running back and forth, wearing pots and pans that were banging and clanging together.

"The timberwolves are a-howlin'!" the old pony shouted with a frantic expression on her face. "The timberwolves are a-howlin'!"

Applejack was joined by Apple Bloom and Big Macintosh, and they listened as the timberwolves howled again.

"Eeyup," said Big Mac.

"The zap apples are comin'!" Granny Smith shouted, still running back and forth. "The zap apples are comin'!"

"Yay, the zap apples are comin'!" the siblings cheered.

Granny Smith paused and glanced up at her grandkids. "That's what I said," she grumbled and then resumed banging the pots and pans together while the siblings exchanged strained smiles before going back to bed.

The next morning, Big Mac and Applejack headed out to a section of the orchard, where there was a large number of seemingly dead trees, and they began setting up baskets. Granny Smith went to the window and called out to them.

"Hey, silly goose! Quit your gawkin' and move your caboose!"

"Eeyup," Big Mac grunted as he tossed a basket so that it landed under one of the trees.

Applejack was setting up baskets not far from the fence and she paused to wave when she saw Sunrise Blossom coming up the road. "Mornin', Sunny!"

"Morning, Applejack, Big Mac," the orange unicorn replied. "I heard the timberwolves howling last night and I figured that the zap apples are going to be coming soon."

"Eyup," said Big Mac with a nod of his head.

"Granny Smith and Apple Bloom are up at the house getting things ready," Applejack informed her friend. "Want to see if they need any help?"

Sunrise Blossom nodded. "Can do, and I got some ingredients with me that I know Granny Smith will need for the zap apple jam," she confirmed, nodding to her bugling saddlebags, and she headed up to the house.

Meanwhile inside said house, Apple Bloom was eager to get started on making the famous zap apple jam, and she bounced over to her grandmother, who was in her rocking chair. "Ready, Granny!"

"Ready for what?" Granny Smith asked, slowly rocking back and forth.

"For makin' zap apple jam!" Apple Bloom announced.

Granny Smith brightened up. "Darn tootin'!" she agreed. "It's time for some good old-fashioned zap apple jammin'!"

"Yes, ma'am," Apple Bloom agreed eagerly. "I can't wait, ma'am!"

Granny Smith looked at her granddaughter questioningly. "Wait for what?"

Apple Bloom repressed a sigh. "To make zap apple jam with you!"

"O'course," Granny Smith agreed and lead her into the kitchen, where she began organizing the bowls and jars. "Now I been doing this ever since I was a little pony, so be warned, pickle pear. There's a whole mess o' steps in this process and you gots to get each one of them just right, or no zap apple jam. Take this." And she handed her a strange-looking wood thingy.

"Uh, is this one of your gazillion secret herbal ingredients for the zap apple jam?" Apple Bloom asked, taking it in her mouth.

"That there's a broom," Granny Smith informed her. "Now get sweepin', pipsqueak! Now while you sweep, I'll get to, uh… something there… umm… Oh, ponyfeathers. Bet I'd forget my mane if it wasn't attached to my head." And she turned when there was a knock on the backdoor and Sunrise Blossom entered. "There you are, Sunrise," she said, delighted to see the orange unicorn. "Got the ingredients I need, sweetie?"

Sunrise Blossom nodded and set the various ingredients on the table. "Got them right here, and I'm also here to help out with the zap apple jam while Zecora looks after the Apothecary for the next few days," she added.

"Grand!"

Out in the orchard, Applejack and Big Mac had finished setting up the baskets when a strange wind began blowing. They both looked up as strange-looking clouds began rolling in from the Everfree Forest, and the red stallion sniffed the air.

They both jumped when blue electricity began crackling along the branches of the trees, and seconds later, it disappeared and transformed into big dark purple leaves.

"There's the zap apple leaves, right on schedule!" Applejack exclaimed, delighted since it meant that they were one step closer to getting the zap apples themselves.

A short while later, Filthy Rich, an amber-colored pony with dark gray hair with light gray highlights, light blue eyes, and a cutie mark shaped like three money bags, walked up the road to the barn with his daughter, Diamond Tiara. They followed the sounds of singing to the barn, and in the nearby yard, Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and Sunrise Blossom were wearing bunny costumes and were hopping over a circle of watering cans while singing the alphabet.

"A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L-M-N-O-P…"

Diamond Tiara stared at them and then she began laughing while Filthy Rich was just nodding in approval, and it was clear that he was used to seeing this happen. Hearing the laughter, the three ponies stopped their hopping, and they turned to greet the new arrivals.

"Well, howdy-doo there, Filthy Rich!" said Granny Smith, hopping over.

"Hello, Mrs. Smith," said Filthy Rich while Diamond Tiara almost fell over from laughing so hard. "Did I hear right that there's a zap apple harvest coming in a few days?"

Granny Smith nodded. "Four days, to be exact."

"Excellent news," Filthy Rich said, delighted, "and as usual, I get your first hundred jars?"

"'Course, Filthy," the old pony agreed.

"Uh, I prefer Rich," Filthy Rich corrected her and they walked off to talk.

"Oh, and how is your pappy doin'?"

When they left, Sunrise Blossom magically lifted up the watering cans. "I'm going to take these to Applejack and Big Mac," she told the two fillies, "and I'll bring back some fresh cans for us to hop around, Apple Bloom."

"Ok," said Apple Bloom, smiling as the orange unicorn walked away.

Diamond Tiara waited until they were alone and she smiled meanly. "Oh, you poor, poor thing, having to make all that zap apple jam with Granny Smith," she taunted.

"Actually, I been looking forward to making zap apple jam for years!" Apple Bloom said cheerfully.

"I'm not talking about the jam," Diamond Tiara corrected her. "I'm talking about Granny Smith! You must be sooo embarrassed." And she nodded to the old pony, who was now wearing the cauldron on her head.

`"Soup's on!"`

Apple Bloom glanced at her grandmother and then back at the filly. "Uh, what do ya mean?" she asked uncertainly.

"You know, with all her silly ways," Diamond Tiara teased, "how she forgets things, and makes you wear these ridiculous costumes?"

"Granny said that the water needs-" Apple Bloom began.

"Thank goodness you're here on the farm and not in town where everypony could see you," Diamond Tiara interrupted, enjoying the fact that she was riling her up. "Don't worry. Your secret is safe with me," she added softly before walking away with a smirk.

Apple Bloom stared after her, perplexed. ""Silly ways"?"

Just then, Filthy Rich used a wooden spoon to bang on the cauldron, making a crashing gong sound and Granny Smith backed away. `"Uh, thank you kindly, Filthy!"`

Sunrise Blossom returned and helped get the cauldron off the old pony's head while Filthy Rich collected his daughter and they left together. While Granny Smith went inside to get what she needed to go shopping in town, she checked on Apple Bloom, who was looking upset.

"You ok, sweetie?" she asked, concerned.

"Huh? Oh yeah, I'm fine," said Apple Bloom quickly, and she hurried away.

The orange unicorn watched her, frowning. 'Hmm, did Diamond Tiara say something to her?' she wondered.

A/N: Boy, if any pony needs a serious lesson about being respectful to others, especially to somepony's grandparents, then that pony is clearly Diamond Tiara. Yes, Granny Smith acts quirky sometimes, but that's a good thing, and that's what makes her special. See you all on Tuesday! R&R everyone!