Applebuck Season
It's early autumn in Equestria, and the ponies in Ponyville are going about their day as normal. Until the ground started to rumble slightly causing Rainbow Dash to fly into the air to see what was going on. "Stampede!" she yells out and ponies run into their homes to wait it out. Out of nowhere Applejack shows up with her dog and starts to herd the stampede of what turned out to be cows.
"Other side Winona" Applejack commands. She then throws her lasso at the lead cow running the stampede and turns it away from the town. Once clear she stops the lead cow and asks what the whole thing was about.
"Oh my, begging your pardon Applejack, but Mooriella here saw one of those nasty snakes and gave us all the willies, don't you know?" one of the other cows answers.
"I completely understand" Applejack replies. "Just next time, try and steer clear of Ponyville."
"We certainly will, Applejack" the cow says and the herd starts to head home.
"What the heck just happened here?" Night asks.
"Night! Your back" Twilight says. "How's Luna doing?"
"Alright. Still get used to this whole thing, heh, before I left we nearly blew apart the armory by mistake" Night chuckles.
"What did you do?" Rainbow asked.
"I may or may not have lost control of my lightning for a few seconds and it might have hit a few things" Night says, trying to act innocent. Before Twilight could say anything Pinkie jumped in.
"Applejack just saved Ponyville from a stampede of cows" Pinkie said. "And we're gonna throw a big 'Thank you' party." A week passes and no one was seen Applejack since, but everypony expects her to be there.
The party then starts and ponies talk about Applejack threw out the party, then the mayor ends it by giving the Prize Pony of Ponyville award to Applejack, but she isn't there? "I'm here! I'm here" Applejack announces from the back of the crowd with a basket full of apples on her back. She then thanks everypony and heads back toward the farm with the award being dragged the way there.
"Ok, did anypony else think that was weird?" Night asks.
"Yeah," Twilight answered "she seemed a little-"
"Tired?" Rainbow finishes.
"Dizzy?" Fluttershy answers.
"Messy?" Rarity says. "Well, did you see her mane?"
"She seemed fine to me" Pinkie reports.
"Pinkie, you could get hit by a train and not even notice" Night points out. Twilight is still curious by this so she and Night head to Sweet Apple Acres to see if there is a problem.
The two arrive to see Applejack hitting the trees causing apples to fall in the baskets beneath them. Although she attempts to hit a tree she already hit, but missed. Then hits one of the baskets underneath said tree. "What in Equestria is that pony doing?" Twilight asks. Night shrugs and the two go up to Applejack but she falls asleep still standing before they get to her. "Hey, Applejack!" Twilight calls out. "Applejack!"
"Let me try something" Night says to her. He then causes a lightning strike to himself and the noise jolts Applejack awake.
"Howdy, Twilight, Night" Applejack says, half awake.
"What is all this?" Twilight asks looking at the other apple trees.
"It's Applebuck season" Applejack answers. "It's what our family calls harvestin' time. We gather all the apples from the trees so we can sell em."
"But, why are you doing it all alone?" Twilight asks, starting to get concerned.
"Because Big Macintosh hurt himself" Applejack answers.
"What about all those relatives we met when we first came to Ponyville?" Night asks. "Can't they help?"
"They were just here for the Apple family reunion. They actually live all over Equestria and are busy harvestin' their own orchards" Applejack points out. "So, uh, I'm on my own. Which means I should get back to work.
"Fine" Twilight responds.
"Uh, could you step aside, Twilight?" Applejack asks.
"I just did" Twilight answers. [Echoing] "Applejack, you don't look so good."
"Don't none of you six worry none. I'm just fine and dandy" Applejack attempts to reassure them and gets back to work.
"Do you need some help?" Twilight asks.
"Help?" Applejack scoffs, "No way, no how!"
"There's no way you can do all this in a reasonable amount of time, Applejack" Night pointed out.
"Is that a challenge?" Applejack asked, getting in Night's face.
"Of course not" Twilight answers.
"Well, I'm gonna prove to you two that I can do it" Applejack proclaims. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got apples to bucket."
"This is not going to end well" Night predicts and Twilight nods in a worried agreement.
The next day, Rainbow is waiting on a fence when Applejack shows up. "There you are!" she says.
"I'm a might sorry Rainbow. I was busy applebuckin', and I guess I-I closed my eyes for a second, and when I woke up, I was late" Applejack apologizes. "Now, what's this new trick of yours?"
"See this contraption?" Rainbow asks pointing to a raised wooden platform with a seesaw under it with a red 'X' on the raised end closer to the platform.
"Uh, yeah" Applejack responds.
"Well, I'm gonna stand on one end. Then your going to jump down from the platform, launching me into the air faster than I can take off on my own. Once I'm in the air, I'm going to do some amazing flips and spins that are sure to impress the Wonderbolts" Rainbow describes.
"Isn't that a might dangerous?" Applejack wonders.
"Not for a pony who can fly" Rainbow reasons.
"Well alrighty then" Applejack says and the two ponies get into position. "Oh my."
"Ready?" Rainbow asks. "1,2,3" Applejack then jumps off but missed her target. "Uh, maybe I wasn't clear. You're supposed to land on the other end."
"Got it" Applejack says. As time goes on Applejack keeps missing the target.
"Applejack, what the hay is going on?" Rainbow asks after one of Applejacks failed attempts. "I mean, I thought I was working with Ponyville's best athlete!"
"You are" Applejack replies. "I'm okay! Really. I-I have an idea." Instead of jumping on the seesaw she pulls the on end down. Rainbow just glares in annoyance. "Ok, one more try. I'm sure to get it this time." She then gets off and Rainbow flops down when her end falls. "Here I go" Applejack says at the top and jumps off.
"Wait!" Rainbow screams, still flopped on the seesaw when Applejack lands on the other end. "Applejaaaack!" Rainbow then disappears into the sky without her wings opened.
Twilight, meanwhile, is sitting on her balcony reading when Rainbow Dash lands on the railing. "Can I help you?" she asks confused.
"I think- somepony else needs your help" Rainbow states.
"Applejack?" Twilight questions already knowing the answer.
"Yep" Rainbow replies then slips into unconsciousness. Twilight then heads down to see Applejack hit herself on one of the low branches from the tree she's bucking.
"Applejack, can we talk?" Twilight asks.
"Can bees squawk?!" Applejack asks in confusion. "I don't think so."
"No. Can we talk?" Twilight asks again.
"20 Stocks?! Bean or celery?" Applejack says, not understanding.
"No! I need to talk to you!"
"You need to walk to the zoo?! Well who's stoppin' you?"
"I need to talk to you!"
"Oh! Well why didn't you say so?! What you want to talk about?!"
"Rainbow Dash dropped in to see me today" Twilight said, finally getting somewhere.
"That's quite neighborly of her!"
"Yes, except that she crashed onto my balcony after you launched her into the air."
"Oh, yeah" Applejack replied. "I wasn't feelin' quite myself this mornin'."
"Because you're working too hard and you need help!" Twilight claims.
"What? Kelp? I don't need kelp." Applejack said not understanding. "I don't even like seaweed."
"Help! YOU NEED HELP!"
"Nothin' doin', Twilight. I'm gonna prove to you, to everypony, that I can do this on my own" she then turns to leave but hits the same branch she hit earlier. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to go help Pinkie Pie." Applejack then leaves while Twilight then notices Night looking tired.
"Night. Are you alright?" Twilight asks.
"I'm good. Just haven't been able to sleep recently" Night says then lets off a small yawn.
The next morning, Night, Twilight and Spike arrive at the hospital were a lot of ponies, including Pinkie Pie, are extremely ill. "What happened?" Twilight asks the doctor.
"It was a mishap with some of the baked goods," she said while Spike picks up one of the muffins on the ground.
"No, not baked goods, baked bads" Pinkie manages to say before throwing up in the bucket next to her bed.
"Applejack" Twilight said, thinking she had something to do with this. Before she can leave, Spike gets her attention.
"Want one?" he asks Night and Twilight with one of the muffins in his claws.
"What is your stomach made of Spike?" Night questions as Spike seemed fine after eating one.
Twilight arrives the farm to see Applejack upside down, and asleep, with a cart underneath and had been trying to put the apples into a large bucket. "Applejack, we need to talk" Twilight said. Applejack then wakes up startled.
"Oh, it's you, Twilight. I know what you're gonna say, and the answer is still no" Applejack said.
"Not to upset your apple cart, but you need help" Twilight says.
"Hardy-har" Applejack responds then tries to get herself out of the position she's in. "I'll prove that this apple can handle these apples. Come on apples. Fall off!"
"A.J., I think you're beating a dead… tree" Twilight points out. Applejack then looks up to see that she's right. "Actually Applejack, I had something else to talk to you about." I just came back from Ponyville Urgent Care and-"
"You know, I'm a little busy to get lectured right now Twilight" Applejack interrupts.
"If you'd just let me help-" Twilight starts.
"No! No! No! How many times do I have to say it?" Applejack asks. "I don't need no help from nopony!"
"That pony is as stubborn as a mule!" Twilight says then sees a mule standing next to her. "No offense."
"None taken" the mule says. Twilight then sees Night with a bucket of apples on his back and she goes over to see what's going on.
"Night, what are doing?" she asks.
"Well ever since we found out what was going on with Applejack I decided to give her some help" Night answers.
"When did she say 'yes' to that?" Twilight asks confused.
"She didn't. I've been coming down here mainly when it's dark" Night answers. "I've at least cut the amount of work by a third."
"That's why you've been so tired recently" Twilight asks concerned.
"Yep. It's been worth it so far" Night replies when they hear a scream coming from Ponyville. "What's happening?"
"We'd better find out" Twilight says and the two head toward Ponyville to see no visible damage on the town, but three ponies were on the ground.
"The horror! The horror!" the first one said.
"It was awful!" the second one continued.
"A disaster! A horrible, horrible disaster!" the third claims.
"Our gardens destroyed" the first pony said.
"Every last flower devoured" the second continued.
"By-by… them!" the third says pointing to a massive group of baby bunnies with Fluttershy desperately trying to get them to stop.
"Okay. This has gotten completely out of hoof" Night said. Twilight nodded in agreement and the two went to see Applejack again.
"Alright Applejack" Twilight said when they got close to her. "Your applebucking hasn't just caused you problems. It's overpropelled pegasus, food poisoned plenty of ponies, and terrorized bushels of new-born baby bunnies. I don't care what you say. You need help."
"Ha! No, I don't" Applejack says jestering to the orchard. "I harvested the entire Sweet Apple Acres without your help. How do you like them apples?" Big Macintosh then walks up and turns Applejacks head the other way.
"How do you like them apples?" he asks. Applejack starts mumbling indistinctly at the sight then collapsed with exhaustion. Applejack then wakes up to see Twilight and Night standing over her.
"Oh, good. You're okay" Twilight releves. "Now Applejack, I completely respect the Apple-family ways. You're always there to help anypony in need. So maybe you can put a little of your stubborn pride aside and allow us to help you?"
"Okay Twilight" Applejack agrees. "Please. I could really use your help." Shortly afterward, Applejacks friends are there to help out and the work finishes in a few hours. "Alright everypony, I've got some nice apple juice for y'all to enjoy" Applejack calls out when the works basically finished. "Girls, I can't thank you enough for all this help. I guess I was being a little stubborn."
"A bit?" Twilight asks sarcastically.
"Okay, a might stubborn, and I'm sorry." Applejack apologizes then see notices that Night isn't at the table. "Hold on, where's Night?" The six ponies then look for their alicorn friend only to find him underneath one of the apple trees sound asleep. "Why is he so tired?"
"Because he's been helping you for the last 2 or 3 days without any sleep" Twilight answers. "He probably harvested a third of the orchard."
"That explains a few things" Rainbow said. As they turn to leave Twilight stays where she is.
"You coming Twilight?" Rarity asked.
"You girls go on ahead. I'll stay here to make sure nothing too crazy happens" Twilight said and sat down next to the sleeping colt while the others walk away, and if Night was awake, he may have noticed the small blush on Twilight's face as she looked at him.
A/N: I'm back and I don't have to deal with as much stuff. Yay for me! Anyway, thanks for reading as usual. Also I've recently got into this show call RWBY so I may do a fanfic on that once I finish this season, but as always, have a pleasant day/evening/night.