Applejack had never felt such freedom from wearing a piece of clothing as she swung from tree to tree all the while lifting her legs high into the air before landing on the ground.
She exclaimed, "Rarity! This feels wonderful!"
The seamstress giggled, "I knew you would like it."
Applejack examined her Lincoln green outfit that covered her entire body from her boots, leggings, belt, tunic, and gloves.
Rarity voiced, "There's just one thing missing…" she presented a cap with a single red feather to her.
Applejack took it and put it on her head.
Rarity proclaimed, "Perfect!"
The farm girl looked at her reflection in the water and marveled at the sight that was her. She looked back to see Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy wearing the same outfit as hers.
Rainbow declared, "We're more than ready now!"
Applejack interjected, "Not quite. There's still the matter of training."
Dash whined, "Aw, come on!"
AJ pointed, "You don't need it but it's important that the rest of our friends know what to do in case something goes wrong."
Apple Bloom suddenly came up to them with a basket of eggs, asking her sister, "Is this enough for supper, Applejack?"
Applejack looked and told her sister, "Almost, you just need a few more."
"But that's all the chickens would lay!"
Fluttershy spoke up, "Let me talk to them." she went toward the chicken coop that Big Mac had built after Fluttershy offered to bring her chickens to the camp so they could have some eggs to eat. Once she entered the coop, she told her chickens, "I know it's hard to lay so many eggs now, but we need to keep our strength up especially since we're living in the Everfree Forest now. So if some of you could just give us a few more that would be wonderful."
There was some clucking before one chicken managed to lay the amount Fluttershy needed. She told the bird, "Thank you, Elizabeak." the chicken clucked in response.
The woman took the eggs back to Apple Bloom.
"Thanks Fluttershy, I'm really glad you're here to help."
"You're very welcome."
The young red-haired girl headed back to where Granny was as the elder was cutting up vegetables that would be needed for their dinner. At this point the camp was filled with more huts, a couple of wooden tables and chairs to go with them, and of course the chicken coop.
Applejack addressed the girls, "Okay, let me show you how one gets strength and discipline." she held her bow and arrow up and shot at a dead tree with very little branches. The arrow landed at the very top of the tree. She explained, "Your objective is to climb the tree and retrieve the arrow."
Pinkie gleefully said, "Sounds easy enough!"
Rainbow smugly said, "Except…" she held out two iron plates tied to rope, "You have to wear these while climbing."
Rarity indignantly yelled, "What?! Why?! What is the point?!"
Applejack cut in, "The point… is to get away even when you're being weighed down."
Rainbow volunteered, "Here, I'll go first to show you how it's done." she tied the weights to her arms and began to climb but even she was struggling to get to the top. She called back, "Hey, Applejack! I think you choose a lousy tree, because I keep slipping!"
Applejack yelled, "That's the idea! You have to overcome any odds in order to make it to the arrow!"
Pinkie shrugged, "Makes sense to me."
Fluttershy gulped, "Oh, goodness…"
Rarity inquired, "But is all of this really necessary? You know I'm not all that skilled with tree climbing."
"It is necessary. Because when we get out there, we don't know what's going to happen. This is a huge risk we're taking since we're going against the prince's orders. Sheriff Gladmane and his men are still in the village waiting for the chance to arrest me and my family, and they're making the place unbearable for all the folks we care about." she sighed, "Look, I know the rest of you haven't practice combat skills the way Dash and I have, so we're going to take this nice and slow so you'll be ready by the time we have our first mission."
Fluttershy suggested with a meek voice, "Then, maybe we could try something simpler…?"
Rainbow landed on her tush with a thud and rubbed it as she said, "Hate to say it, but I'm with Flutters, climbing up a tree to reach an arrow might be a little advance for them."
Applejack bit her lip and admitted, "You're right, I guess it was too soon for this type of exercise, we'll need to start with the basics more than anything."
Rainbow proclaimed, "On it!" she quickly grabbed for some staffs that were on the side in case one of the huts needed to be repaired. Then she handed the girls each a staff as she began explaining, "Staff-fighting is fairly easy to handle, the trick however is to knock your opponent down while you have the chance."
As Rainbow kept instructing, Applejack noticed a gloomy expression on her sister's face as she was helping their grandmother.
When it was late at night, everyone retired to their huts. Applejack and Apple Bloom shared a hut with two hammocks with the little sister sleeping on the top while the big sister slept on the bottom.
Applejack heard sniffling above her and questioned in concern, "Apple Bloom? Are you okay?"
AB kept sniffling and muttered, "Uh-huh…"
AJ frowned and replied, "Now you don't fool me for a second, little sister." her face softened as she gently asked, "Now what's wrong…?"
Apple Bloom wept, "I miss Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo… At least you got to have your friends here, but I haven't seen mine in almost a month!"
Applejack felt a twinge of guilt and said, "I know, hon… I know… and rest assure that Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and I are going to do everything we can to get you three together."
Apple Bloom wiped her eye and asked in a near hopeful tone, "Really?"
Applejack said as she held her hand up for Apple Bloom to grasp, "Really…" there a pause before uttered, "I want to tell you a secret, something Mama told me before she…"
AB nodded sadly and stated, "I get it. What did she say?"
Applejack continued, "This was something she told me when I was young and she wanted me to share it with you when you were old enough."
Pear Butter laid on her sick bed while Bright Mac, Big Macintosh, and Applejack looked on in sorrow. Pear Butter beckoned her children to come forth and whispered.
"I want to tell you a secret. A great secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. You must always remember this, as I want you tell your little sister this when she has grown… Have courage and be kind. For you must always have kindness for people even if they don't deserve it… and you must have the courage to stand up for what's right even when the rest of the world doesn't think so… But most importantly, you must have the strength to carry on in the darkest of times… Promise me this, my loves…"
Young Big Mac and Applejack said with tears, "We promise…"
Apple Bloom uttered in amazement, "You remembered all that?"
Applejack replied, "I had to, I made Mama a promise and I was going to keep it."
"And… wasn't that when Papa died too?"
"Yes. Because shortly after Mama passed on, Papa died from grief when he lost the love of his life."
"Would that happen to me if I got married and suddenly, my husband died and then I would die from heartbreak?"
Applejack thought it over before answering, "I think it all depends on how deeply in love you are… You know Mama and Papa knew each other since they were children and did just about everything together. Buttercup was more than Bright Mac's wife, she was his best friend."
"Wow…"
"Wow is right. Our parents loved each other so much that they couldn't bear to part from each other not even when death took one of them."
"Tell me something more about them, what was Papa like?"
"Papa was strong both physically and emotionally. In fact I can remember when he first gave me a bow and arrow for my birthday and taught me how to use it."
"How old were you?"
"Six. I was a tiny thing but Papa knew how strong I truly was and taught me everything he knew about surviving."
The arrow missed the target but Bright Mac just smiled as he looked at his small daughter getting ready to use another arrow and instructed, "Draw all the way back now to your cheek… That's right… Keep both eyes open… And… loose!"
She released the arrow and it went shooting across the orchard missing the target completely. She deadpanned, "I missed."
He chuckled, "It's alright. You'll get it in time."
"But I want to get it now!" she whined.
Bright Mac shook his head, "It takes practice, Applejack. And as long as you have the strength and discipline to carry it out, you'll be a very good archer."
"Really Papa?" she asked with big eyes.
He nodded with a smile, "Very. Now, are you ready to try it again?"
She exclaimed in excitement, "Yes, Papa!"
He went back to instructing her as she kept missing the target.
Apple Bloom couldn't believe what she heard and commented, "You missed the target? All the time?!"
Applejack rolled her eyes, "I was just a youngin', Apple Bloom, and you got to start at the bottom before you can get to the top."
"Well it's just I'm used to seeing you hitting the mark all the time, that it's hard picturing ya not being able to."
Her sister chuckled, "Well I guess you got a point there."
"And because you followed Papa's advice you did become a good archer if not better."
"Uh, I guess I did at that."
"Can you teach me how to do archery?"
"I will. So long as you promise to only use it in self-defense, because archery is not a game, Apple Bloom. Someone can get seriously hurt if you're not careful with the arrows."
"Okay, Sis."
"I mean it, Apple Bloom, this is a dark moment in our life and the last thing I want is to lose you."
"But I don't want to lose you either! Especially if you're going to be out there tryin' to help people!"
Applejack sighed, "You're right. But I'm going to make sure I stay safe and that's what I was tryin' to teach the girls today. We need to make sure they're well trained before we start helping the townspeople."
"Is it really as bad as they say it is?"
She grimly replied, "It is… when Rainbow Dash and I went to the tavern, I saw the suffering firsthand… So many people that we knew to be full of joy and content were miserable and mistreated by the sheriff's men… That's why I have to do something about it, Apple Bloom."
"Well… I know you're planning on feeding the village with what crops we have growing but… what happens when we run out? Then we'll go hungry, won't we?"
Applejack's eyes widen from not realizing that sooner and voiced, "Gosh… you're right, little sister. Cause even if we do feed everyone in town then we'll end up losing what we have and starve."
"Then what can you do help that won't hurt us in the process?"
"I'm… I'm not sure… I would need to ask the girls and see what they think. But one thing's for sure, if it hadn't been for you, I don't think I would have realized that we would be losing our food source until it was too late."
"Really?"
"Yes, and I tell ya, you got a real keen eye on things happening in the long run. That is going to serve you well in life."
"Aw, gosh…" she blushed.
Applejack yawned followed by Apple Bloom. The older sister said, "Let's get some rest now, we got another long day tomorrow."
AB yawned again before replying, "Okay… Good night, Applejack."
"Good night, Apple Bloom…"