Chapter 10: Going to Seed
The sun raises over the fields of Sweet Apple Acres, and soon a rooster crows out. Inside, Applejack and Clay placed some dog-dishes down with pancakes as Winona started eating.
"Becareful, Winona. You don't get choked up." Clay said with a teasing smile as Winona barked in reply and Applejack hands a plate of pancakes to Granny, Big Mac and Apple Bloom.
"I know we've had this day marked on the calendar for quite a while, but it's finally here." Applejack said happily.
"Eeyup." Big Mac replied half awake as Clay took notice that his brother-in-law hasn't slept well.
"Big Mac, have you been up late again?" Clay asked as Big Mac flinched with his eyes slightly widen.
"Uh, no. Not at all, Clay. Just been thinkin' about Sugarbelle is all." Big Mac replied back with a nervous chuckle and smile.
Clay, however, wasn't still convinced.
"Sure is." Apple Bloom replied as well yet she was still tired.
"What?" Granny asked confusingly as she frowned.
"The Confluence." Applejack said as she gestured to a chart that had the drawing of the apple farm with trees in colors of green, orange, yellow, and red. "A harvest a hundred moons in the makin'. When every apple comes ripe at the same time. Big Mac's been up late workin' on this schedule so we can be sure not to miss a single tree. All it'll take now is a few days o' hard work. Who's with me?"
Suddenly she heard the sound of loud snoring as they turned to Big Mac already sleeping again on his pancake and spilling syrup.
"That looks like a lot of work." Apple Bloom said as she tiredly groaned.
"Don't worry about, Apple Bloom. It's gonna be just fine with me helping you guys out." Clay said as Apple Bloom turns to her brother-in-law. "And we'll be ready for anything."
"Clay is right. And don't worry, chick-a-bidee." Granny said, agreeing with her grandson-in-law. "We got this Confluence under control. I got us some help. And since Clay has some time off from Twilight and Chase's school, it'll be even better with him helping us out."
"That's great, Granny!" Applejack said as she placed her hat on as Clay stood next to his wife. "Twilight and the others are too busy at the school to lend a hoof. We could sure use some more muscle. Who'd you get? Braeburn? Honeycrisp?"
"Even better." Granny said as she chuckled.
Clay and Applejack frowned a bit confused when meowing was heard.
"Who's that?" Clay asked as he and Applejack turned as the door opens with dozens of cats on top of each other.
Suddenly they push free from the doorway and then it reveals Goldie Delicious.
"Howdy, y'all!" Goldie greeted excitedly.
"Goldie Delicious?" Clay asked in surprise.
One of her cats stood on top of Big Mac's head, and then it's claws scratched his ear. Big Mac woke up with a startle as he yelps in surprise, falls back, and hits the floor. Clay snorted before he laughed while Applejack giggled at the scene and Big Mac glares at them annoyingly.
"That ain't funny, you two!" Big Mac said irritatingly.
"You're right, it's hilarious!" Clay said as he and Applejack laughed a bit before they calmed themselves down.
"Mm-hmm. Now, that's how you wake a pony up." Goldie said before she chuckled. "And that was also funny too. Hehehe."
"Goldie Delicious!" Apple Bloom exclaimed in excitment, now out of the tired zone, and hugged her.
Goldie patted Apple Bloom on the head before she broke the hug with her.
"Granny told me y'all could use a helpin' hoof with this here Confluence, so I came a-runnin'." Goldie said.
"Well, with a harvest this big, we're grateful for all the help we can get." Applejack said as Big Mac struggled to get the cat out of his ear and successfully did it. "I guess."
"Eeyup." Big Mac replied.
"It's too bad y'all ain't ever caught the Great Seedling." Goldie said. "He'd have granted you a perpetual harvest, Confluence or no."
That got Applejack and Big Mac to laugh, but Clay was confused by this.
"The Great Seedlin'?" Applejack said as she chuckled. " Well now. I haven't thought about that old mare's tale for years."
"Who's the Great Seedling?" Clay asked curiously as the rest of his family stopped their laughing with widened eyes and gasped in surprise as they stared him down, making the Earth Pony stallion look uncomfortable. "What? Is it some sort of myth?"
"The Great Seedlin' ain't no mare's tale!" Goldie snapped before she explains the story as a flashback showed a magical deer that a rainbow sherbet fur coat, antlers that resembles tree branches with orange and red leaves, and a tail that looked like a green leaf. The Great Seedling hops from barn to barn, spreading some apple trees along with way. Then he walked right into a net trap before he vanished and began to spread some apples on the trees before he sleeps for hibernation. Soon it started all over again before the flashback ends. "He's a magical Earth spirit... All the colors of the harvest that travels from farm to farm daring ponies to catch him. And those that have the ingenuity are rewarded with crops that are always in bloom. And he's as real as you and me!"
She narrowed her eyes as Apple Bloom had a big smile, but Applejack had a dismissive look on her.
"As I'm up to recall, Apple Bloom used to love settin' traps for the Great Seedlin' when she was a young'un." Granny said and laughed.
"She did?" Clay asked as he and even Big Mac couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, I'm pretty sure she's overgrown the whole thing by now." Applejack said. "Right, Apple Bloom?"
They suddenly realized Apple Bloom was already gone.
"Hey, where is she?" Clay asked curiously.
"Or maybe I'm big enough now to finally catch him!" Apple Bloom beamed with a helmet on and materials as they all turned to her. "Who's with me?!"
She smiles happily as Clay and Goldie couldn't help but admire her determination.
But Applejack narrowed her eyes dryly.
*Main theme*
"Apple Bloom, you haven't hunted for the Great Seedlin' since you were little." Applejack said as she approached her sister. "Why would you want to start again now?"
"The Confluence is so big!" Apple Bloom beamed. "He's bound to show up! And if we catch him, he'll make all the apples ripe all the time! Right, Goldie and Clay?"
"Mm-hmm." Goldie replied back as she nodded and Clay starts to think about this with a thoughtful smile while Applejack glares at them, more specifically her aunt. "That's right, young filly."
"And maybe we'll have a lot of customers wanting some fresh apples off the tree. This would be the perfect opportunity." Clay added with a smile as Apple Bloom laughed.
"Just imagine." Apple Bloom beamed. "Sweet Apple Acres would be the busiest orchard in Equestria! Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do!"
Apple Bloom heads outside excitedly as Applejack walks up to the door, watching her leave.
"Don't forget we have actual work to do, too!" Applejack reminded as Clay and Goldie approached her.
"Nothin' like a little filly enjoyin' the harvest." Goldie chuckled as Applejack turns to her with an annoyed look on her face.
"Honey, don't you just want Apple Bloom to have fun? I mean she's never gonna stop unless she gets that creature." Clay said as he wraps a foreleg around Applejack and his wife smiled at him.
"I don't mind Apple Bloom havin' fun, honey." Applejack said with a worried look. "But there's honest-to-goodness work to do that doesn't have a thing to do with an old legend."
"You can wait until you talk with her tonight. Right now, we've got work to get done. So grab the schedule and let's go buck some apples." Clay said as he walks out to do some work.
"Don't ya think it's a little too soon for that, sweetheart?" Applejack asked with concern.
"Aw, quit worryin', sugar booger." Granny said as she puts the dishes in the sink. "Besides, Clay is right. Apple Bloom can hunt for the Seedlin' all she wants. If you're so fret-a-fied about work, why don't you and your brother get to buckin' your own selves?"
"Granny's right." Applejack said as she grabs the map of the orchard and Applejack turns to Big Mac sleeping, who was holding a cat. "Come on, sleepyhead. Let's get to work. And we can't let Clay do all of it on his own."
"Eeyup..." Big Mac said tiredly as he yawned and then the cat finally pulls free from his grip.
(Scene changes)
Later towards mid-morning, Apple Bloom was on the hunt of the Great Seedling. She rushed by Applejack, Clay, and Big Mac as they were bucking apples from trees.
Then Big Mac bucks a tree, and the tree flop and pulls up as every apple was in the bucket.
Clay and Applejack turned to him as Big Mac teasingly raised his brows. But then Applejack simply did a spin kick and hit three trees as every apple from them fell into the basket. Clay did the same as he spin kicks five apple trees, causing the apples to fall into five baskets.
"Sorry, Big Mac. You gotta learn to know where the tree's weak spot is." Clay said with a smirk as Big Mac looked stunned before he glared to the side in irritation.
Then Granny was heard chuckling as they turn to her as she was pushing a bucket to a tree near Goldie.
"...and if you had two o' them, it would've been a "pair of pears"!" Granny said and the 2 elderly ponies laughed.
Goldie bucks the tree, but only to fall as she lands on her back and Granny rushed over to help her.
"As much as I appreciate her volunteerin', I'm not sure how much help Goldie's gonna be." Applejack said unsure.
"Oh, now, that reminds me of the time Dottie - that's my Cheetah, you understand - she found out where I keep the catnip." Goldie said as she and Granny laughed.
"Why not just tell her you're just worried about her then, Applejack? I mean she's one of your family relatives." Clay said with an understanding look.
"I love hearin' her and Granny spinnin' yarns, honey,, but it looks like the harvestin's up to us." Applejack said to her husband before she turns to Big Mac. "You're gonna have to redo that schedule."
Clay and Applejack walked off to another row of trees.
"Eeyup." Big Mac sighed as Applejack saw Apple Bloom nearby setting a trap.
"Try not to fall asleep while you're at it, bro." Clay said with a smirk, making Big Mac widen his eyes as he flinched before he glared at the two annoyingly as they laughed.
"It's not funny!" Big Mac shouted in irritation.
The Earth Pony couple eventually settled themselves down as they saw Apple Bloom working on her trap.
"And as much as I'd rather Apple Bloom were helpin', I guess there's no harm in her huntin' the Great Seedlin' for a day." Applejack said. "Right?"
She and Clay turned, only to see Big Mac sleeping and leaning against the tree.
"Big Mac!" Applejack and Clay yelled.
It was enough that Big Mac jumped and backs up with a yelp. He accidentally steps in one of Apple Bloom's snare traps, getting caught as he hangs upside down and then was pulled into the air.
"Gotcha!" Apple Bloom shouted as she jumped out from a bush with a net and saw that it was only Big Mac as she became sad. "Awww. You ain't the Great Seedlin'."
"Nope." Big Mac said and Applejack smacked herself.
"Don't worry, Apple Bloom. You'll find him soon enough." Clay said with an encouraging smile as Apple Bloom smiles back at her brother-in-law.
(Scene changes)
The next morning, they were having breakfast as Applejack readies another batch of pancakes as Clay was putting out four more plates for the family.
"We fell behind a bit yesterday, so we need everypony at their best." Applejack said and Goldie moves her plate aside from her cat, as another took one of them.
"It that's your brother's best, we might be done for. Mm-hmm." Goldie said and Big Mac enters the kitchen, but looks like he hasn't slept last night as Clay turns to his brother-in-law.
"You know, bro, you've really gotta stop working too much. You need your strength." Clay said with a smirk.
"I wish I could, Clay. But I'm just too plum tired." Big Mac replied back and then he drops flat on the floor.
"Yup, and just like I said yesterday, honey. He was just up late workin' out a new schedule so we can stay on track." Applejack said to Clay as he turns to his wife and she holds out the chart.
That's when Apple Bloom excitedly appeared.
"I didn't sleep either!" Apple Bloom excitedly said. "I was too excited! I can't wait to see if I caught the Great Seedlin'!"
"What are you talking about, Apple Bloom?" Clay asked curiously as Apple Bloom rushed outside and Goldie turns to Applejack with a smugly look.
"I hope you're ready to cheer Apple Bloom up when her traps come up empty." Applejack said sternly.
"Everypony!" Apple Bloom said excitedly as she came back. "Come quick! You got to see!"
(Scene changes)
They followed Apple Bloom down a trail.
"What in blazes is all the excitement about?" Applejack asked.
"What's with all the excitment about, Apple Bloom?" Clay asked curiously.
"Look!" Apple Bloom excitedly beamed as she pointed at something.
In front of them in a clearing, was a bunch of apples gathered in a symbol of some kind and the Apple family was shocked by that.
"Whoa." Clay said in shock and surprise.
"The Great Seedlin' did this!" Apple Bloom beamed. "Didn't he?!"
"Well, braid my mane!" Goldie said amazed. "These sure look like Great Seedlin' tracks to me!"
"Ha! I knew it!" Apple Bloom beamed. "He was here! The Great Seedlin' was here! Ain't that amazin', Applejack?!"
Apple Bloom hugged Applejack and Clay before she rushed off.
"Yeah... Amazin'..." Applejack said and glares at Goldie, who laughed.
Apple Bloom hops excitedly near the apple pile as everyone else went up to her.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Apple Bloom gasped. "I just can't believe the Great Seedlin' was really here!"
"Neither can I." Applejack said, narrowing her eyes.
"What do you think it means?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Well, it looks like a challenge." Goldie said as she laughed. "The Seedling wants you to know that he was here, and he's daring you to catch him. Mm-hmm."
"You think I still have a chance?" Apple Bloom asked.
"You're an Apple, ain't ya?" Granny said and winked.
"Why, if you set enough traps, you're bound to catch him." Goldie said.
"You're right!" Apple Bloom beamed. "And that's just what I'm gonna do! Look out, Great Seedlin'! Here I come!"
She rushed off giggling as Granny and Goldie laughed.
"Now, why would you go and do a thing like that?" Applejack said to Goldie.
"A thing like what?" Goldie asked in confusion, not understanding what Applejack is talking about.
"You know what I mean." Applejack said. "We got enough work to do without you distractin' Apple Bloom by makin' some apple tracks and pretendin' the Great Seedlin' did it."
Goldie then gasped deeply offended.
"I did no such thing!" Goldie denied with a glare.
"What in the tater tarnation would make you say a thing like that?!" Granny angrily asked.
"Well, somepony did it." Applejack said. "And she seems to be enjoyin' this quite a lot." She glared at Goldie.
"I'm enjoyin' it because Apple Bloom's enjoyin' it!" Goldie said.
"Uh-huh." Applejack said skeptically. "And I suppose you two didn't do it either?"
"Nnnope." Big Mac replied as he shook his head and Applejack turned to Clay.
"And what about you, Clay? Have you done any of this?" Applejack asked her husband sternly as he shook his head in reply.
"No, I would never do that. Applejack, honey, would I ever do this to you just so that we can get the apples to come down early?" Clay asked as he smiled at his wife sincerely and Applejack realized
"O' of course." Granny said. "But I suppose it could've been Goldie's cats! Why don't you ask them?"
Clay turned to see three of Goldie's cats hogging with a few apples as one of them pounces on one.
"Have you considered that maybe it was the Great Seedlin' after all?" Goldie asked.
"Ha-ha. Very funny." Applejack said sarcastically as she turned away and got back to work as Clay watched her leave with a smirk.
"That's what I love about her. She can be really tough." Clay said as Goldie and Granny turned to him
"I swear, sometimes I think she's part mule." Granny said.
"Well, she is as stubborn as a mule." Clay said with a smirk when a neighing was heard behind the three as they turned to a mule with apologetic smiles.
"No offense." The three said together.
"None taken." The mule replied back.
It wasn't long until Applejack got back to the barn as she placed a few apples in a bucket and saw some things being throw inside.
"Apple Bloom?" Applejack asked as she went inside.
She then enters and then a net drops over her as she sees Apple Bloom throwing a few things aside before poking her head up.
"You know where there's more rope?" Apple Bloom asked. "I've got a lot of traps to make if I'm gonna catch the Great Seedlin'."
She tossed away a toy shark.
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about." Applejack said, removing the net off as Apple Bloom walked over to another crate and began shuffling some stuff around while looking inside. "I know you're excited, but we sure could use your help today. Are you sure you want to spend time tryin' to catch somethin' that... might not even be real?"
"What?" Apple Bloom asked as she frowned and turns to her sister. "But the Great Seedlin' is real. You saw the tracks. You think those appeared all by themselves?"
"I don't know who made the tracks." Applejack said. "But I don't think it was the Great Seedlin'."
"Why not?" Apple Bloom asked and Applejack removes her hat.
"Because the Great Seedlin' is just somethin' to make the harvest fun for young'uns." Applejack said. "And you're old enough now to know that there's a time for fun and there's a time for work."
"But catchin' the Great Seedlin' is helpin'!" Apple Bloom said. "He can make the trees blossom all the time! Besides, Clay is encouraging me to keep on doin' it!"
"All right." Applejack said as she sighed and extends her left foreleg to Apple Bloom. "How about this? If you help me with the harvest today, Clay and I will help you set traps for the Great Seedlin' tonight. Deal?"
"Woo-hoo!" Apple Bloom beamed as she shook it and hugs her sister. "Yes! It's a deal!"
This made Applejack smile as she hugs her in return.
(Scene changes)
Later that day, they were all out bucking and collecting the apples as Clay bucks three apple trees, allowing them to fall into some barrels.
"That should do it." Clay said and as Applejack was pushing a bucket of apples, she noticed some placed in a swirl shape.
"Kinda looks like those Seedlin' tracks, huh?" Applejack asked.
"Sure." Apple Bloom said, not convinced as she glared at her sister. "If there were hundreds of apples in a bunch of different lines."
"Well, if enough apples fell or got knocked down by the wind maybe." Applejack said. "Or animals."
Clay immediately saw this as he glared at his wife in disapproval.
"Are you seriously just trying to give your little sister's hopes up, honey?" Clay asked as he, Goldie, and Apple Bloom glared at her.
"No I'm not, sweetheart. I'm just sayin' there's a lot of possible explanations." Applejack said to Clay as her husband just gave her a flat look.
"Well, if you may want to get something off your back, now would be a good time. Because it looks like you have more than just a lot to buzz off your shoulder." Clay said sternly.
"And one o' them is the Great Seedlin'!" Goldie said, agreeing with Clay.
"And the rest of 'em ain't!" Applejack firmly stated.
"That ain't what you thought when you was a foal." Granny said.
"What does that mean?" Apple Bloom asked.
"Wait, wait. I'm sorta confused. What are you guys talking about?" Clay asked curiously as Apple Bloom still had the same expression on her face.
"Ohohoh, Clay. you have just gotta hear this one." Goldie said, chuckling in amusement. "Tell them the story, Granny. Your grandson-in-law needs to know as much as Apple Bloom."
Clay smirked as he sat next to Apple Bloom while Applejack just groaned in irritation and face hoofed herself.
"Your sister was plumb loco about catchin' the Great Seedlin' when she was your age." Granny said to Apple Bloom as the filly and Clay listened. "Same as you are now. Worse, even."
"Oh, is that so?" Goldie said with a teasing smirk, making Applejack glare at her even more. "Do tell, Granny?"
"Well, it must've been the last Conflu-inky, I reckon." Granny said. "I was supposed to keep an eye on your sister, but..."
Flashback
"...she was slipperier than an apple seed." Granny's voice narrated.
Years ago when Applejack was Apple Bloom's age, she excitedly rushed out of the barn and heads to the orchard just as Granny made her way outside the barn just in time to see her granddaughter head for the trees.
"Applejack!" Granny called out. "Get your flank back here! You're supposed to be sortin' in the barn!"
"Sorry, Granny!" Applejack said. "I got to check my traps, or the Great Seedlin' might get away!"
It wasn't about a second later as Applejack rushed over to the trees and checks over the traps, but so far none of them had caught the Great Seedlin.
"Now, where'd I put that trap?" Applejack wondered to herself as she moved past a bush when a twig snapped, and then she suddenly fell into a pit trap with a yelp.
"Bust my buns." Granny said, walking by as she didn't notice Young Applejack had fallen into her trap. "Where's that young'un get to?"
Applejack soon wakes up and saw she was twenty feet down the hole.
"She spent the better half of the day stuck down in that trap!" Granny's voice said as she laughed and above her, the others were busy working.
"And missed out on helpin' with the harvest because I was chasin' somethin' for little foals." Applejack said as her parents and Big Mac were working on the farm. "I felt guilty everypony else had to work harder because of me. So I decided right then and there I was too old to waste any more time on Great Seedlin'."
Young Applejack tears up and then fuses up knowing that the Great Seedling was nothing but a myth.
Flashback ended
The story ended as Applejack had a look of shame of how young she was for finding something really ridiculous to focus on the Confluence.
"Oh, we finished the harvest just fine." Granny assured her granddaughter with a smile. "But we laughed about that story for years!"
She laughed along with Goldie, but Clay had a confused look on his face.
"I'm still laughin'!" Goldie said as she walked away and laughed as Applejack just glared at her unamusingly when Clay came up to his wife.
"Honey, I don't get it. I mean, if you were a filly, then didn't have a plan sorted out to capture the Great Seedlin'?" Clay asked as Applejack turned to her husband.
"Well, of course I did. I had that schedule for me to set up every trap around the farm." Applejack said, brining out an old schedule from her younger years. "Here let me read it out for you. Twelve o'clock, set for traps. Ten am, check for traps. Just like Van Hoover."
Clay didn't looked convinced as he gave his wife a 'are you kidding me' look.
"Van Hoover…? Gave me that." Clay said as he snatched the schedule from Applejack, making her flinch, and looked at the schedule closely. He then sighed in annoyance. "It's Appleloosa. Applejack, does this look like Appleloosa to you?"
He showed Applejack the schedule that she accidentally wrote Appleloosa instead of Van Hoover on it. This made his wife widen her eyes in realization as she looked around nervously.
"Uh… well… uh… kinda." Applejack said with a nervous stutter and smile as Clay sighed in annoyance.
"No? Okay. You remember the time you told when you were in the fifth grade where you spent all your time passing county notes to Suzy Boyles?" Clay asked as Applejack smiled meekly.
"She loved it." Applejack said insecurely.
"The rest of the class were studying Geography! This is not Appleloosa!" Clay finished with a stern look while tapping on the schedule, making Applejack realize that as she had a flat look on her face.
"W-will you listen to this? Blame it on the mare! How original. She must've written and read the schedule wrong with only one eye open due to sleeping!" Applejack shouted while pointing at herself as Clay sighed and placed a hoof to his face as he groaned tiredly.
Apple Bloom and Granny couldn't help but silently giggle at the scene, finding it funny between the Earth Pony couple.
"Honey, come on, now don't take it personal." Clay said as Applejack turned away from her husband with her front hooves crossed with a bitter look.
"You were thinking that. You were thinking that." Applejack said as Clay approaches his wife.
"Come on, sweetie. My little girl." Clay said as he hugged Applejack close to him, making her smile at that as she playfully pretended to not hear him.
"Don't-don't do that-I'm resisting you." Applejack said as he nuzzled her ear.
"Who's your teddy bear? Who's your teddy bear?" Clay said playfully.
"Don't make me like you now. Don't-I don't wanna like you now." Applejack said as Clay gave her a playful smirk.
"Come on." Clay said as he hugged Applejack close, making her smile and giggle at that.
"Alright." Applejack said as the two shared a loving kiss on the lips just as Apple Bloom walked over to them.
"I'm sorry that happened, Applejack, but it won't if you and me set traps together like you promised." Apple Bloom said. "Plus, we'll get 'em done twice as fast and won't miss out on any of the harvest!"
"She does have a point, AJ." Clay said, agreeing with Apple Bloom with a smile. "Besides, I'll help you guys out anyway I can."
"Then let's get to work." Applejack said as Apple Bloom happily gasped, hugs her older sister and soon the three head off.
(Scene changes)
Later, Apple Bloom sets another trap and carefully tests the trip line.
But it was on a hair trigger when the rope snapped and the cage fell down. Seeing this, Applejack quickly rushed over as the cage dropped over them and knocked the apples out of the two buckets.
They both poke their heads out from the apple pile as Clay pulls the trap off of the two before he and Applejack give Apple Bloom a glare as she nervously smiled at them.
(Scene changes)
Later, Apple Bloom finishes covering a pit trap as Clay and Applejack soon fill two more baskets.
All of a sudden, two of Goldie's cats appeared rushing from the bushes and then Winona came out chasing them. The cats ran across the covered trap, but Winona fell through.
The three looked at Winona before Applejack and Clay gave Apple Bloom an unamused glare as she smiled, making the Earth Pony couple smile in reply.
(Scene changes)
Later, Apple Bloom sets another snare trap as Applejack and Clay load some apple filled barrels onto a wagon.
The three hid behind a tree as Granny and Goldie appeared. They walked closer to the snare, but they stepped over the rope without triggering it and as well with Goldie.
Suddenly a twang was heard as the trap went off and they saw it was Big Mac as he was hanging upside-down. Clay, Applejack, and Apple Bloom couldn't help but laugh.
Later on, they started setting up more traps.
(Scene changes)
Hours later at night, they were finishing up setting a trap.
"It sure was fun settin' up all those traps together." Apple Bloom laughed.
"I forgot what a good time it could be." Applejack admitted and laughed. "If any three ponies can catch the Great Seedlin', it's us."
"And we're not gonna let that critter get away, right girls?" Clay asked as Applejack and Apple Bloom nodded in agreement before they began to head back to the house for the night.
I can't wait to check in the mornin'." Apple Bloom beamed.
"Now, there's still plenty of harvestin' to do." Applejack reminded her younger sister. "So promise me and Clay you'll help, even if all our traps are empty."
"I promise." Apple Bloom said. "So long as you're bothready for the bountiful harvest the Great Seedlin's gonna give us when one of our traps nab him!"
"Deal." Applejack laughed.
"You got it." Clay said as Apple Bloom high-fives with Applejack and rushed off, going inside.
(Scene changes)
The rooster crows out early the next morning as Apple Bloom and Applejack excitedly rush out while Clay walks outside casually as he shook a bit to get the tiredness out of him.
"Come on, Applejack!" Apple Bloom beamed. "If we hurry, we can check every trap and still stay on schedule!"
"Now that's what I like to hea-" Applejack said and froze as they both saw a huge apple symbol.
"Whoa." Applejack said, amazed as Clay joins her and Apple Bloom while looking at the symbol in awe.
"Wow, that's amazing." Clay said with an amazed look.
"I don't believe it!" Apple Bloom gasped.
Apple Bloom rushed off as Applejack shook her head, and then Big Mac tiredly appeared pulling a cart with Granny and Goldie.
"This must've taken all night." Goldie said and then Granny smacks Big Mac awake.
"Eeyup." Big Mac said still tired as Clay took noticed and lightly snickered at the sight of his brother-in-law sleepy as red stallion glared at him annoyingly. "Will you cut it out already, Clay? It's not funny!"
"You're right, it's extremely funny!" Clay said as he and the rest laughed hysterically at the sight of Big Mac still tired as he still looked annoyed.
"Nothin'!" Apple Bloom said, coming back with a disappointed look on her face, making the rest of the family stop laughing and turn to her.
"What's wrong, Apple Bloom? Have you got anything?" Clay asked his sister-in-law, who turns to him.
"No, Clay." Apple Bloom replied back, still disappointed.
"Huh?" Applejack asked confusingly as she frowned.
"I checked all the traps near the tracks!" Apple Bloom said. "Every one was sprung, but they're all empty!"
"Every trap sprung?" Applejack said. "No way critters did this. Or the wind. I can't believe I'm sayin' this, but... maybe the Great Seedlin' really was here!"
She smiled as Clay smirked with an amused eye roll.
"So, you finally ready to admit the Great Seedlin' might be real?" Goldie inquired.
"I can't think of anything else that could've laid out these tracks and sprung all our traps." Applejack said.
"And if he left this many tracks behind, he's practically beggin' us to catch him!" Apple Bloom beamed.
"I ain't never seen anything like this before." Granny said.
"Well, tell us what you have seen!" Applejack said. "Goldie, you too! We need to know it all if we're really gonna catch him!"
"Sure, Goldie and I'll tell you all about the Great Seedling all day." Granny said. "While we work."
"Work?" Applejack asked as she frowned. "Clay, Apple Bloom, and I don't have time for work today! We've got to set up traps in every row! Even the carrots! Just to be sure!"
"Yesterday you said the Great Seedlin' was just somethin' to make the harvest fun for young'uns." Apple Bloom said.
"That was before I thought we could actually catch him!" Applejack beamed. "Besides..." Big Mac walks by and yawns. "...Big Mac can make time in the schedule for us to set traps, right?"
"And you'll try to help out with Granny and Goldie?" Clay asked as Applejack smiled.
"Uh... eeyup?" Big Mac said with a nervous smile.
"Great! Get to it!" Applejack said as she hands him the chart. "Apple Bloom, Clay, and I are gonna go capture us the Great Seedlin'!"
Then Clay, Applejack, and Apple Bloom rushed by Granny and Goldie, who glared at them annoyingly before they continued on.
(Scene changes)
In the afternoon, Big Mac spent most of the day bucking and harvesting the apples by himself as he bucks one tree, but was empty as he looks over the chart. That's when Applejack, Clay, and Apple Bloom appeared.
"Whew! All right!" Applejack said. "Just one more hill to go!"
"What's wrong, Big Mac?" Apple Bloom asked, but they soon noticed Big Mac looking at the chart with an annoyed look.
"What's wrong?" Clay asked as he and Applejack looked at the chart.
"Huh. Is this right?" Applejack asked.
"Eeyup." Big Mac replied before he walks away, leaving the three confused and surprised by this.
"But that doesn't make any sense." Applejack said. "How can all these trees be bare if we haven't bucked 'em yet?"
"You got me, honey." Clay said to his wife.
"Seems like more work of the Great Seedin' to me." Goldie said.
"How do you mean?" Apple Bloom asked as she, Clay, and Applejack approached the elder ponies as Granny pushed a barrel of apples into the cart.
"The closer you get to catchin' the critter, the more mischievous he gets." Goldie said.
"You're saying the Great Seedlin' is takin' our apples?" Applejack asked.
"Yes." Granny said. "Sounds like he's fixin' to throw you off the scent."
Suddenly, the barrel she was pushing on the wagon tips over and some of Goldie's cats rushed off.
"Have you ever heard of anypony actually catchin' him?" Applejack asked.
"Applejack is right, Goldie and Granny." Clay said as the two elders turned to him. "Is there any chance that catching him maybe tougher than we thought?"
"Oh, there are stories, Clay. And some of them to capture the Great Seedlin' is very tricky." Goldie said. "But it's hard to say for sure. He's quite a trickster. Guess that's why the reward is so great if you can trap him."
"Well, his tricks have given me an idea." Applejack said. "Settin' traps is one thing, but I reckon if we keep watch over the trees that haven't been bucked, the Seedlin' won't know what hit him!"
"I like the sound of that." Clay said with a smirk he shared with his wife.
"That's a great idea!" Apple Bloom added with excitement. "Anypony else want to stay up with us?"
"Ah, no." Granny said. "A pony like me needs her beauty rest. But you young'uns have a good time."
"My kitties can't sleep unless they're curled up on my haunches." Goldie tittered. "But I can't wait to see the Great Seedlin' with my own eyes once you catch him."
"Guess it's just you, Clay, and me." Applejack said as she, Apple Bloom, and Clay rushed off.
Big Mac, who was watching them, tiredly and annoyed rips part of the chart off as he heads off.
(Scene changes)
Hours later at night, Applejack and Clay looked through some binoculars as the entire farm was riddled with traps.
She, Clay, and Apple Bloom were up on a platform in a tree.
"Too bad nopony else wanted to come out." Apple Bloom said. "But I'm glad we're doin' this together."
"You got that right, Apple Bloom. And I'm excited to spend time with you girls." Clay said as he brought the two in for a hug, making them smile.
"Me too, honey." Applejack said as she chuckled and kissed her husband on the cheek. "It's been a long time since I was on a real Seedin' hunt. And this is the first time doin' it with my little sister and lover."
"When did you start tryin' to catch the Great Seedlin'?" Apple Bloom asked as she yawned.
"Yeah, I'm curious about that myself." Clay said with a smile as Applejack giggled.
"I couldn't have been much more than a foal." Applejack said as Clay listened with a smile. "I remember our parents tuckin' Big Mac and me in and tellin' us all about the Great Seedlin'. And I got so excited , I could barely sleep. So I-"
That's when Apple Bloom started snoring as she saw her already asleep, making Applejack and Clay turned to her. They smiled at her
"Don't you worry, sugarcube." Applejack said. "Clay and I won't let him get away."
With that said, Clay and Applejack got back to watching.
(Scene changes)
Two hours later, Applejack and Clay were asleep as she snored while her husband held his wife with one foreleg.
All of a sudden, a sound was heard as Apple Bloom woke up and she saw some apples being knocked off 2 trees.
"Applejack, Clay, wake up!" Apple Bloom whispered as she shook Applejack and Clay up.
"W-what?" Clay asked as he yawned and rubbed his eyes while waking up. "What's going on?"
"Huh?" Applejack woke up. "W-What is it?"
"I think a trap went off!" Apple Bloom whispered as Applejack and Clay turned to the trees before they smirked.
"Well, let's go check it out!" Applejack said.
The three quietly looked around the trees trying to spot the Great Seedling.
"See anything, Clay?" Applejack asked Clay as her husband shook his head in reply.
"Nothing." Clay replied as he looked around the trees and jumps onto one of the branches to get a better look. "You got anything, Apple Bloom?"
"Mm-mm." Apple Bloom replied back as she shook her head.
"Don't scare him off." Applejack said. "We got to lead him into one of the traps."
"I'm not worried about scarin' him." Apple Bloom whimpered nervously as the three continued on.
Suddenly a silhouette of a deer shadow rushed by behind them.
Clay, Applejack, and Apple Bloom looked around before they heard a twig snap. They went behind some bushes and they peaked over as they saw a shadow by a tree, bucking it as some apples dropped to the ground.
Then some cans clatter from a rope behind them and they looked around as then a shadow looms over them from behind.
An apple drops on Apple Bloom's head as she looks up and saw it.
"I THINK THE GREAT SEEDLIN'S HUNTING US!" Apple Bloom screamed as she takes off running and screaming as the shadow ran off.
"Apple Bloom! Wait!" Applejack yelled and she ran after her.
"Guys, stop!" Clay shouted before he glares at the shadowy figure and brings out his kusarigama, holding it in a fighting stance.
The figure slowly approaches Clay as he got a better look at the creature before he gasps in shock of what he was seeing.
Meanwhile, Apple Bloom ran as fast as her legs can take her, and dodges a few traps. And then got caught in a snare trap and was hosted up.
Soon Applejack appeared and looks around.
"Huh?" Applejack said while frowning before she turns to her sister as she hurries and unties her.
"Applejack!" Apple Bloom whimpered, making her turn as they saw the shadow close by and coming towards them.
Applejack quickly frees Apple Bloom, and they quickly rushed off. They ran through the trees as the shadow was behind them.
When they soon got to the barn, Applejack tries to pry the board holding the main doors closed, but found it was stuck.
They looked back as the shadow walked through the net of the entrance. The 2 sisters huddled together in fear.
"Clay, where are you?!" Applejack and Apple Bloom shouted with fear and desperation.
"Right over here!" Clay said as they turned to see him jump over the shadow and casually walked to the two girls.
"What are ya waitin' for, honey?!" Applejack said while she and Apple Bloom shook in fear. "Get him!"
Clay just smiled and chuckled, confusing the girls.
"What's so funny?" Apple Bloom asked, not finding this hilarious.
"You both might wanna look again." Clay said as he gestures to the shadow.
The shadow steps into the moonlight, and then was revealed to be Big Mac sleepwalking with a night hat with apples, and branches stuck on it making it look like antlers. The sight of shocked Apple Bloom and Applejack in the process.
"Big Mac?!" Applejack and Apple Bloom exclaimed.
"He's been harvestin' in his sleep this whole time!" Applejack said.
"Big Mac is the Great Seedlin'?!" Apple Bloom exclaimed in shock.
The shout was enough to wake Big Mac up as he steps on a skateboard and stumbles backwards as he tries to process what was going on while screaming before he falls into a pit trap.
Clay, Applejack, and Apple Bloom looked down to him.
"Y-You okay, Big Mac?" Applejack asked.
"Nnnope." Big Mac replied as he glared at them. Clay then laughed so hard as Big Mac irritatingly glared at him. "Clay, for the last time, will you please cut it out?! This is not helping me get my beauty sleep!"
"It's still funny to us, Big Mac!" Clay replied back as he, Applejack, and Apple Bloom started laughing as Big Mac couldn't help but smile.
As Clay settles down, he heard a rope snap in the orchard. Curious, he went to investigate it and when he got there, he gasps with his eyes widened in surprise.
In one of the net traps he, Applejack, and Apple Bloom had set up was the real Great Seedlin' as it let out some neighing sounds.
"The Great Seedlin!" Clay whispered with a shout as he became excited and turns to see the girls helping Big Mac out. "Guys, you gotta get over here! The Great Seedlin' is-"
That's when a whimpering sound was heard as Clay stopped and he turns to see the Great Seedlin' looking at him with a scared look.
Clay saw this as he and the creature stared at each other. Realizing that the Great Seedlin' wants to be free, Clay smiled as he approached the net trap, pulled out a small dagger and cuts the ropes loose.
"There you go, little guy." Clay said as he tosses the net away and the Great Seedlin' turns to him with a thankful smile.
He reaches behind his back, pulling out a special golden apple and gives it to Clay. Surprised by this, Clay smiles back at the Great Seedlin'.
"Clay! Clay! Where are you?!" Applejack's voice was heard as the Great Seedlin' leaps away off screen somewhere else.
Turning to Clay one last time, the creature nods to him as the Earth Pony stallion smiles back at him before the Great Seedlin' trots away into the night just as Applejack and Apple Bloom approached Clay from behind.
"There you are, honey!" Applejack said as she hugged her husband with a relieved smile. "Apple Bloom and I were helping Big Mac when we saw you disappear, but-" Applejack was cut off when she noticed the golden apple in Clay's right foreleg. "Oooh, nice apple, sweetheart. Where'd you find that?"
"Just who you think it might be." Clay replied back as he turns to see the Great Seedlin' the foreground.
But Clay wasn't the only one looking at it, Applejack and Apple Bloom were staring at it with widened eyes. That's when Apple Bloom became excited.
"There he is! The Great Seedlin' is real! Let's go after him!" Apple Bloom said eagerly as she was about to rush towards the creature, only for Clay to stop his sister-in-law.
"Hold on, Apple Bloom. It's best that we let him go." Clay said with a smile, confusing Apple Bloom and Applejack in the process.
"What are you talking about?" Apple Bloom asked curiously as Clay continued to smile at the creature, who eyed him back.
Realizing what her husband was talking about, Applejack smiled proudly at Clay.
"I'm proud of you, honey." Applejack said as she kissed Clay on the cheek.
Apple Bloom noticed this and smiled, realizing that her brother-in-law was right too as the three watched the Great Seedlin' disappear into the night.
(Scene changes)
The next day, after fishing Big Mac out from the hole. They explained the whole thing to Granny and Goldie as the last of the apples were gathered and how Clay saw the Great Seedlin', letting it go, and receiving the golden apple as a reward.
"...And thanks to all of Big Mac's late-night work, we brought in the whole harvest with time to spare." Applejack said.
"No wonder you were so tired all the time." Goldie said with a smile.
"Eeyup." Big Mac replied.
"Next time we'll try to make sure you get plenty of rest before something like this happens." Clay said to Big Mac as he turned to him. "Cool?"
"You got it, Clay." Big Mac replied back with a smirk.
"I'm glad we solved the mystery, but I really wanted to catch the Great Seedlin' before I get too old to try." Apple Bloom said with a sad look before she glared jealously at Clay. "And I can't believe you got to see him for yourself for the first time, Clay! Especially when he gave you that golden apple too!"
"Well, Apple Bloom, he is after all a creature that wants to be free in the wild. Besides, it's best that when we treat the wildlife as rewards, we also need to respect their decisions." Clay replied back as Applejack smiled proudly in agreement with a nod. "Also, that golden apple is gonna make a great dessert too."
Clay laughed with the rest of the family. Applejack settled down as she turned to face Apple Bloom
"You know what, sugarcube?" Applejack said. "You're never too old to be a filly. There will always be work to do, but havin' fun together is somethin' you never grow out of."
Winona pants as some cats pop their heads from the barrels, and they ducked as Winona turns to them. She frowns and turns away as the cats came out again.
"Well, looks like you don't need me anymore." Goldie said while getting up. "Time to get home before Dottie gets in the catnip again. I have stories about that, I'll tell you what."
"We're glad you came, Goldie." Applejack said as she chuckled and hugs her.
"Sure are!" Apple Bloom said and hugs her. "Come back next year!"
"And don't forget to bring the cats with you too." Clay added as he hugs Goldie and she chuckled.
"You bet I will, Clay. And you do your best to look out for your family." Goldie replied back as Clay nodded to her.
Goldie whistled out and brought her bag out, and all of her cats scrambled inside the bag. She began to head out and then saw a carrot in front of her.
"Oh. Looks like you forgot to clean up the carrots." Goldie said.
Clay, Applejack, and Apple Bloom saw a trail of them.
"Huh. Big Mac wasn't harvestin' the carrots." Applejack said. "Just the apples."
"Was it you, bro?" Clay asked and Big Mac shrugged with a 'I don't know' sound.
Clay, Applejack and Apple Bloom saw the same symbol but made from carrots.
"You know what this means?" Applejack asked excitedly.
"Time for another hunt!" Apple Bloom beamed as she turns to Clay. "What do you say Clay? Wanna join us?"
"Nah. You guys go on ahead, I'm gonna help Big Mac out. But you have fun." Clay said as Applejack and Apple Bloom smiled back before they ran off.
Clay approaches Big Mac as he smiled at his brother-in-law gratefully.
"Thanks, Clay." Big Mac said to Clay with a smile. "I really needed this."
"Anytime, Big Mac, anytime." Clay replied back as he watched Applejack and Apple Bloom rushing off to capture the Great Seedlin'.
"Look out, Great Seedlin'!" Applejack yelled. "Here we come!"
And the two sisters jumped into the air.
Author's note: Hey guys,
Sorry for the long delay, but I had to take care of a lot of work and spent sometime with my family. I know you all were eager to see some more chapters, but it's still gonna take a while because handling my job is not that easy as well as me falling asleep to have late dinner. But I'll try to work harder to get this story done before you all know it. Here's the tenth chapter for season 9 and I did my best on this one. Hope you like it.
Peace out!
