Author's notes: If I ever finish this fanfic I probably might try to write on what the mane six were doing on their quest later (If I got time and a good idea for it). Overcoming Differences is mainly going to be focused on the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Spike, and Cider.
As Applejack bucked and gathered apples into barrels she hummed the "Raise this Barn" song while focused on her chores. Suddenly a familiar voice interrupted her concentration:
"Applejack, I have urgent quest for you and your friends. You must go to the library immediately…"
The country pony tripped then fell onto the ground then she knocked over the barrel and crushed some of the apples. Apple juice was all over her and Princess Celestiawho was standing elegantly on an apple tree branch overhead.
Celestia licked some of the apple juice off of her white coat and golden hooves.
"Sorry about that Princess but what's going on?"
"Do you know the reason why Cheerileeis absent from your little sister's class?" asked Celestia
"Of course I know. Cheerilee'sjust sick and it was really nice of Twilight substituting for her until she gets better…" replied Applejack.
"Cheerilee is more than 'just sick'. Many ponies around Ponyvile, Canterlot, and even the Crystal Empire is catching this virus. Even Fluttershy couldn't keep the animals that caught the virus at the Cottage and had to send them away to the veterinarians for treatment. I need you to go with your friends to find a cure for this disease… Here is enough bits for your quest; use it wisely…"
"So, how do we do that?" asked Applejack as she took the money the Princess gave her.
"You will find out from Twilight once you reach the library now go there is no time to lose…"
"Now hold up. Can you let me say good-bye to my family first?" wondered Applejack.
"I will write a letter to them to explain your absence. Now go quickly!" Celestia flew away to give the letter Applejack's family.
Applejack slipped a little on the sticky apple juice that was soaked in the ground before she could stand up and ran over to Twilight's library.
The three ponies sat on a bench in the shade of the tree near the sidewalk early in the morning before school was supposed to start. They tried to brainstorm on what else they could do to earn their cutie marks but couldn't think of anything. Applebloom especially, since she's still trying to get over of the fact that Cider is gone and there's nothing she could do about it. Unless….
"Wait, who's that guy speaking in that crowd? I had never seen a earth pony like that before" asked Scootaloo.
"Where?" Applebloom replied with alertness.
"Beside Filthy Rich near Town Hall..." Sweetie Bell pointed with her horn.
"Mr. Thyme? Wasn't he supposed to be moving back home? Why is he still here?" demanded Applebloom.
The crusaders walked swiftly and quietly over to the gathering of ponies to find what the fuss is about.
"Now calm down everypony!" said Filthy Rich to the complaining throng, "This timber wolf problem will be solved I promise!"
"Timber wolves were in my garden last night and ruined my crops!" said Carrot Top crossly.
"They ate all my muffins…." cried Derby.
"We demand to see the Mayor now!" ordered Berry Punch.
"Sorry, but the Mayor is frightfully ill that I had to take over for a while…" answered Filthy Rich, "…but don't worry I'm sure Mr. Birch Thyme will form a plan to solve the timber wolf issue at hoof…"
While Mr. Thyme tried to think of a way for the crowd to calm down Rich was able to escape into the town hall building for some peace and quiet.
"It's bad enough we have this virus spreading around here and now timber wolves are using this opportunity to invade Ponyvile last night…" Rich thought to himself.
"Listen up, you all have the right to be angry about this and Mr. Rich will pay for all of the damages they caused. I assure everypony that we can stop those timber wolves as long as we work together to hunt them down…"- Mr. Thyme stopped in the middle of his speech when he saw Applebloom in the crowd.
The two of them stared at each other intensely for a few seconds before he resumed…
"The best way to stop the wolves is for us to hire the most experienced and young enough ponies. Who will join?" asked Mr. Thyme.
Few of them volunteered to go with Thyme into the forest but the ones that didn't left back to their work or rest.
"I hope Mr. Thyme catches your wolf because my family could use another table…" whispered Diamond as she passed by Applebloom, "Oh, and by the way school's canceled until a cure is found for the virus…."
At first, the crusaders didn't believe Diamond's news of school being canceled but she was proven right once they peered inside a dark empty classroom an hour later.
