//------------------------------//
// The Fruits of Her Labor 
// Story: An Apple Alone 
// by Blue Thrush 
//------------------------------//

For the first time in weeks, Apple Bloom awoke before anypony else on the farm. Earlier than Granny Smith, who was quietly resting in her bedroom downstairs. Earlier than the rooster, still snoozing on the fence. Earlier than Winona, tucked under the bedsheets like a quietly-dozing lump.

Over the course of the night, Apple Bloom had slept a dreamless, motionless sleep. The smile she bore from last night was still stretched across her face. Thoughts of the coming work buzzed in the young mare’s head and got her going better than any alarm clock could. Apple Bloom groggily opened her eyes and yawned up a storm, then stretched her forelegs and slipped out of bed. She turned off her alarm clock, beating it to the punch by over an hour. Despite her stirring, Winona snoozed on, awoken by neither the pony nor the sliver of light creeping in from outside. Apple Bloom walked to the window and opened it, taking a deep breath of the pre-dawn air. She gazed out over Sweet Apple Acres with a look of pure determination.

Apple Bloom leaned her head out the window, but she heard nothing despite listening attentively. She yawned again and smiled to herself. So this is what it takes to get up ‘fore you, Granny: Havin’ an orchard-sized order ta fill. She moved over to her mirror and sighed wistfully, a young mare with a bad case of bed mane staring back at her. Freckles dotted her face, barely visible in the dim light. Her limp tail, just visible behind her blank flanks, flicked of its own accord. Apple Bloom brandished a brush and went to work on her messy mane.

“Alright Apple Bloom, this is it,” she coached herself quietly, brushing slowly and methodically. “Ain’t no more time fer do-overs er mess-ups. Ya’ got yerself a plan, a lotta hooves to throw at it, an’ only two days to do it all.” Apple Bloom forced the brush as she fought through a few tangles. “Now yer probably not gettin’ much sleep tonight. Dunno how long it’ll be ‘fore you can call it quits. But stay tough.” She snorted. “Ain’t no shame in takin’ some breaks but ya’ gotta get the order done.” Apple Bloom pointed the brush at her reflection. “Ya’ got this.”

After tying her bow to her tail, she deemed herself presentable. Apple Bloom moved to the bed and nudged Winona and whispered: “Hey Winona, time to get goin’. Gonna get you an’ me an early breakfast, then we’ll get right to it.” Winona lazily lifted her head, sheets slipping off it. She responded with a long, steady yawn, her jaws stretched to their limit. Apple Bloom smiled and petted Winona once she was on all fours. “Atta’ girl. Ya’ ready?” Winona gave Apple Bloom’s cheek a lick. “That’s a yes then. Let’s go!”

Breakfast was quick but plentiful. Apple Bloom didn’t want to spare a single moment cooking. Her meal consisted of nothing but apples: Abundant in supply and devoured raw, the fruits were filling enough to get her started. She fed Winona and studied the plans drawn up previously. The fully-risen sun, though a painful reminder of time elapsing, negated the need for candles. Apple Bloom put the hours ticking away out of her mind and focused on the plans before her. The numbers and scope outlined totaled amounts that were better suited for several days’ worth of applebucking done by multiple seasoned farmponies. While intimidating, they did nothing to deter her. These last two days were her days, and she was going to show her family, her friends, and all of Equestria exactly what she was capable of.

Apple Bloom rotated her head about, stretched out her neck, and stood up, just as Granny Smith entered the kitchen. The eldest Apple was as calm and collected as ever. “Mornin’, Granny.” Apple Bloom waved, trotting towards the door. “Love to sit an’ chat but I got a ton a work an’—”

Apple Bloom’s snout smacked into something. But it wasn’t the rough wooden surface of a door she ran into. Her nose had bumped into a considerably softer surface. Her eyes watered, but she could still make out a smirking yellow-coated stallion blocking her path. “Colton!” Apple Bloom exclaimed with a smirk. She rubbed her snout and squinted outside, towards the rising sun. “Yer early!”

Colton chuckled and shrugged. “Good thing, too. Seems somepony’s in a rush,” he observed, nodding to Granny Smith as well. “Managed to sneak by your guard dog. Guess Winona’s really hungry, eh?” Colton looked to Granny Smith for approval, then stepped into the kitchen. “Figured it was best to get a good head start on things here. Was up half the night reading up on several applebucking techniques.” He stifled a yawn then waved a hoof at Granny to interject. “And I know that doesn’t make me an expert, but I figured it couldn’t hurt.” The stallion glanced down at Apple Bloom. “Speaking of hurting, how’re you feeling? No ill effects from the infection?” he asked. Colton peered around to steal a glance at her hind hooves.

Apple Bloom blinked and turned her own head around, lifting her previously-infected hoof to inspect it. “Ah plum forgot about it,” she realized. She twisted her leg this way and that, and as if on cue, the hoof started to tingle. Despite the sensation, Apple Bloom was unfazed. She put her hoof back down and shrugged. “Guess that means it’s all better...”

“Still takin’ yer medicine,” Granny reminded, settling a couple tablets and a glass of water on the table. “Glad Colton showed up to block ya’ when he did. Ah couldn’t’ve stopped ya’ otherwise.” Apple Bloom took the tablets without hesitation, leaving Granny to tend to their guest. “Care fer any breakfast, Sir Colton?”

The knighted stallion raised a hoof to decline. “No thanks, Granny Smith. Got that out the way too.” He grinned. “You’re going to make a killing at the market today, I figure. Seeing as I’ll be here all day.”

“Ah ain’t goin’ neither,” she informed. “Too many hooves ta manage here, an’ Apple Bloom has enough on her plate without worryin’ ‘bout ponies slackin’ off. Ah want to give Apple Bloom ever bit a’ help Ah can muster.” There was a hint of concern in her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. A small, confident smile brewed in its stead. “Plus there’ll be that many more mouths to feed come lunch and suppertime.”

Colton nodded in understanding and glanced outside. “Alright then, Apple Bloom. Shall we get started?”

Apple Bloom drained the water from her glass. “Yep!” she chirped, scuttling by Granny and Colton in a rush. “C’mon! We’re burnin’ daylight!” She sped outside at a jogging pace, her steady gait impaired only by an occasional limp.

Colton made his way outside shortly after. He spied the young mare racing not into the trees, but rather towards the cellar. “Um, Apple Bloom?” he called, puzzled.

“Ah, she’s just gettin’ the bushels out,” Granny explained, peeking out from behind the befuddled stallion. “Tall order like this needs every basket we can throw at it. Gettin’ ‘em all out there’s step one!”

Colton nodded and pieced the basic strategy together. “Get all the baskets spread out, then the only thing you have to concern yourself with is the applebucking. No danger of flooding either, as we’re promised clear skies the next two days. Smart.” He paused and grinned back at Granny Smith. “See? Getting the hang of this apple business already.” Colton resumed his trotting, catching up to Apple Bloom over by the cellar.

Along his way, Colton gained a companion. Winona, finished with her own breakfast, bounded around him eagerly. Colton smiled, but didn’t stop to pet Winona until he had arrived at the open cellar doors. A modest pile of empty baskets were stacked nearby, soon joined by more as they flew out of the cellar. Colton peered down into the cellar, ducking under another volley in the process. “Need any help down there?” Winona snuffled about the cellar entrance, placated by Colton petting her as she conducted her own investigation.

“Nah! Ah got ‘em!” Apple Bloom called up as more baskets whizzed over Colton’s head. “Jus’ start gettin’ ‘em loaded up. Gonna spread ‘em all out in the furthest fields first then work our way back.”

Colton quickly spotted an empty wagon. He tugged it over and started hucking empty baskets aboard. He expected Apple Bloom to stop adding baskets imminently, but after several minutes she showed no signs of stopping. He raised an eyebrow. “Apple Bloom? About how many are we fetching right now?”

A fresh set of baskets were flung out. “Hundreds!” she answered. “Don’t worry if the wagon’s full already. Just gettin’ ‘em all outta here!” Apple Bloom poked her head out the cellar door and quirked an eyebrow. “sure are wonderin’ a lot for somepony who read up a ton on applebuckin’.”

“Oh hush,” Colton poked his tongue out at her. Apple Bloom retreated back down to the cellar, leaving Colton to continue loading the wagon. He tried to stack some onto the already-tall set to cut down on trips, but when his latest pile started to teeter threateningly he thought better of it. The stallion resigned himself to piling baskets on the ground instead.

Apple Bloom emerged for the last time, hoisting a final pair of baskets up in her teeth. She found Colton arranging the rest in small piles to facilitate their easy carry later. “All set?” Colton asked as he topped off a batch.

Apple Bloom spat the pair out and nodded. “Let’s get goin’.” She rubbed her neck and three-legged her way around the wagon to fasten herself up. Better a sore neck than a sore hoof, she reasoned. At least necks had nothing to do with applebucking. Was hopin’ ta get started ‘fore feelin’ all achy though…

“Want me to pull?” Colton offered, though the young mare had already gotten herself situated.

Apple Bloom waved him off. “Ah got it. You just trail along back and toss ‘em where Ah tell you.” She set off with the creak of wagon wheels squeaking behind her. Colton did as he was told and distributed baskets among the many apple trees. Winona did her best to help too where she could. She’d bound onto the wagon, yank off a basket, and hobble along with it in tow, placing it where Apple Bloom directed.

The wagon’s burdens grew lighter as the trail of empty baskets along the orchard grew. Apple Bloom’s concerns rose along with the sun. The young mare felt like the day was slipping away before she’d even gotten a chance to start. S’all part of the plan, remember, she reminded herself. Ah can applebuck ‘til the cows come home once we’ve done all this prep.

Apple Bloom was relieved when she finally brought the wagon to a halt. She unfastened herself from it and stretched. Colton took a deep breath and surveyed the plethora trees before them. Bright red Akane apples dotted the green foliage, just waiting to be harvested. “So where do we start?” Even the stallion was starting to feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume of produce staring them down from all directions.

“You take that side. Ah’ll take this one,” Apple Bloom nodded to either side of the wagon. “Should be able to get some bushels in no time at all. Then we’ll stop an’ load the wagon and ‘round trip. Now wh—”

“I’m here!” The farmponies flinched at sudden shout from the sky. A rush of wings and rustling branches announced the arrival of a pegasus stallion, perching precariously on the empty wagon as he dusted a few leaves out of his mane. “Am I late?”

Apple Bloom’s eyes lit up in recognition. “‘Course not. Just gettin’ started, Gale.” Winona hopped up to give Gale Force an excited greeting, barking and licking at his hooves.

“What took you?” Colton asked, knowing that he himself managed to actually arrive on time, early in fact. Gale tended to Winona as he hopped off the wagon.

“Had to fight to get out of work. Cold Front wasn’t exactly happy that I asked an impromptu vacation,” the pegasus explained. “Not that this is my idea of relaxing but—”

“Well now that yer here,” Apple Bloom interrupted, toddling over to a tree, “we can get started. An’ with three of us here we can move faster too. See all these baskets? We’ll fill ‘em, you ferry ‘em. Got it?” Gale, amused at the young farmpony taking charge, nodded without comment. “Alright. Colton? Let’s get goin’ then!” she ordered, rearing up to smack the tree with practiced precision.

As the two stallions started their own work, Apple Bloom’s attention turned towards her back hooves. The sudden arrival of Gale had distracted her from thinking about it, but now that they were put to work, she braced and kicked, prepared for anything. To her surprise, she felt nothing awry. She didn’t know if it was due to the medicine, the long bedrest, or her hoof genuinely being healed, but she was relieved regardless. Apple Bloom kicked again, sending the rest of the apples tumbling neatly into the awaiting baskets below.

Colton started out sluggish. He was scoring more hits than misses against his target tree trunks, but he was much more meticulous and slow in his wind-up. Combining the books’ instructions with what Apple Bloom had taught him days ago, he adjusted his aim, checked twice, then reared back and let his legs fly. He wasn’t nearly as efficient as the young mare across from him, but he was managing to keep a decent pace.

Gale was alternating between the two earth ponies, having little time to rest between each trip to and from the barn. Definitely not a day off, he confirmed, forelegs already starting to stiffen. Clouds aren’t nearly this heavy! Plus they float! Keeping his complaints to himself, Gale swooped down as Apple Bloom went to the another tree. “You certainly don’t look like a pony who just got out of the hospital,” he teased, grabbing a laden bushel and taking off.

Apple Bloom grinned and let fly another kick. No. Ah don’t.





A clattering bell rang off in the distance, snapping the trio of ponies out of their work-induced trance. Apple Bloom, Colton, and Gale looked up toward the farm, ears perked, the three just wrapping up with the Daliclass and Elstar apples.

“Lunch!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, peering up into the sky and peeking up at the sun. “Land sakes, noon already! No wonder Ah’m starvin’.” The continuous labor had stymied her appetite, but the bell brought it to the forefront of her mind. Her stomach growled loudly.

“Feelin’ a bit hungry myself,” Colton chimed in. His back legs wobbled a bit, the stallion steadying himself against the tree trunk. “Could use a good pick-me-up.”

“Me too,” Gale agreed, wings flapping as he rubbed his sore forelegs. “Definitely break time.”

“Well we got our invitation!” Apple Bloom encouraged, taking off at a casual gallop. She was the only one not limping, breathing hard, or nursing sore limbs. A few hours of applebucking was second nature to her, and the long recuperation had left her with plenty of energy to spare. A tingling hoof couldn’t hold a candle to a roaring belly.

Apple Bloom was the first to arrive back at the house, closely followed by Winona, who had her lunch waiting for her just outside. Colton and Gale brought up the rear, filing in behind Apple Bloom. They all settled down around the table, waiting only a beat before they all dug in. Granny had put out a spread of sandwiches and juice for them all, munching on an apple herself as she pored over the plans and progress of the harvest. She acknowledged their arrival with a friendly nod, then went right back to studying the figures.

Gale, forelimbs weak from work, opted to dip his muzzle to his plate and take moderate bites. The other two managed well enough with their forelegs. Granny fussed with a pencil and scribbled out a note while glancing out the window. From her seat she could just make out where the bushels of apples were being gathered. She eyeballed and estimated the stacks and did some mental math, trying to figure out how much progress had been made.

The three working ponies rushed through their meal, partially because of the time, mostly because they were hungry. “Mm! Delicious as always, Granny,” Apple Bloom remarked as she drained a glass of apple juice. She licked her lips and bounded out of her seat, not wanting to waste any daylight sitting about now that she was fed. Thoughts floating back to the orchard, she trotted right out the door...

…Right into a pair of ponies, Apple Bloom’s snout punished twice in one day. Twelve legs mingled on the ground as Apple Bloom collected her bearings. She shook her head to focus, making a mental note to start watching where she was going when leaving the kitchen. “Ugh… who…?” Her eyes zeroed in on the ponies splayed on the floor alongside her, similarly recovering. “Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo!”

Gale and Colton snickered at the scene unfolding before them, though they got up to help the ponies up. Gale dusted Scootaloo off with a few rough brushes of a foreleg. “You ponies ought to watch where you’re going,” he chided lightly. Then he blinked. “...Aren’t you supposed to be in school, young ladies?”

Sweetie steadied herself on all fours and answered. “We got the afternoon off! Miss Cheerilee said we were allowed because we were coming over to help Apple Bloom!”

“Yeah, what she said,” Scootaloo spoke up, swatting away at Gale’s dusting forehoof and promptly running one through her own mane. “We’re here to help!”

Apple Bloom beamed at her two closest friends, gratitude blossoming. “Mighty nice of her to let y’all come over an’ help.” A clock somewhere in the house chimed, her ears twitching at the tone. “Enough about that, we got work to do!”

Without another word, Apple Bloom dashed between her friends and headed back out. Winona, spying the young mare racing by and finished with her own lunch, gave chase. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at each other, then tore out the door after her. “Apple Bloom! Wait for us!” they called. Gale and Colton stared outward at the sudden burst of speed.

“An’ jus’ what are y’all waitin’ fer? Invitations?” Granny muttered, looking up from her work to stare pointedly at the two stallions still in the kitchen. “Back ta work!”

That got them moving. “Yes ma’am,” they acknowledged simply, making their way out to follow the Cutie Mark Crusaders, venturing into the trees once more.

The house now vacant of all other ponies, Granny gathered up the plans and figures she was sussing over and stacked them neatly on the table. “Gettin’ plenty done, but ya’ got so much more ahead of you, Apple Bloom,” she thought aloud, glancing out at the bushel pile. “Sure glad ya’ got plenty of rest.”





“...An’ we’ve been out here all mornin’ an’ my hoof hasn’t been actin’ up one bit!” Apple Bloom rambled on as the Cutie Mark Crusaders jogged along. It didn’t take much longer for them to arrive where she, Colton, and Gale had broke for lunch. “Did ya’ see how many bushels we rustled up already? An’ now y’all’re here too!”

Apple Bloom skidded to a halt. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo followed suit and glanced around, spying dozens of baskets strewn about strategically. The three continued conversing, catching up, until Colton and Gale showed up. “Well, Apple Bloom, how do you want to do this?” Colton asked, curious how the young mare meant to divvy the workload.

Apple Bloom tapped her chin and furrowed her brow. She knew that her friends couldn’t applebuck individually. Putting them together would be the best approach. Apple Bloom looked up and answered Colton. “Ah want ya’ to keep doin’ what yer doin’. Start on my side though so that I can pick up some of yer’ slack from this mornin’. Not criticizin’, but—”

“I understand, Apple Bloom,” Colton interrupted with a smile. “I’m not going to pretend I’ll ever be a better applebucker than you.”

Apple Bloom blushed a twinge, but she quickly recovered and turned her attention to Gale. “Keep up what yer doin’ too, Gale Force. Ya’ see a bushel, ya’ ferry it back. Unless yer legs are all tuckered out,” she goaded.

Gale stood tall and willed his forelegs to stop shuddering from exertion. The last thing he wanted to do was look out of it in front of his daughter. He grinned smugly. “Are you kidding? I got plenty left in me,” he gloated. He caught a look of pride from Scootaloo out of the corner of his eye. With a puff of his chest, he boasted: “Bring it on.”

“Good,” Apple Bloom nodded, knowing full well Gale wasn’t the type to give up. “Sweetie Belle? Scootaloo? Y’all tackle trees together, usin’ yer wings an’ magic to pluck apples.”

“You got it Apple Bloom,” Scootaloo affirmed, Sweetie nodding eagerly beside her.

“Y’all’ll work on Colton’s side. Figure the three of ya’ can keep up with me,” Apple Bloom said matter-of-factly. She grinned and reared up, ready to send everypony into high gear. “Now let’s—”

Winona cut in with a bark, leaving Apple Bloom to lamely settle back on her hooves. The collie was eagerly awaiting her orders, to see what her role would be in all this. Apple Bloom pet over Winona’s head and scritched her ears. “Almost forgot about ya’, girl. Ya’ need to head back to the barn.”

Scootaloo quirked her head. “Huh? What for? Don’t you want her out here keeping us company?” She took her own turn at petting Winona. The collie’s tail wagged happily at all the pony pettings.

“She needs to cover the apples we already harvested,” Colton answered. “Takes more than a scarecrow to frighten animals away. I should know.” The grape farmer chuckled. “Just be glad birds can’t fly off with apples.”

“Yeah, no birds. Fruit bats, on the other hoof... Well, ‘least they’re off in their own fields. Ain’t bothered us fer years.” She gave her fellow farmpony a sympathetic look. “But yer right, Colton: All our work’s fer nothin’ if’n we let any critters get away with our apples.”

Winona was unperturbed by the apparent order to be sent away. She licked Apple Bloom across the cheek and dashed for the bushels with a bark.

“Well, she’s off,” Apple Bloom noted. She grinned and reared back again. “Okay, now let’s—”

“Hold on a sec,” Gale interrupted. Apple Bloom nearly slipped on her way back down again, but managed to land on all fours. “With all those extra bushels that Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle will be making, I don’t think I can keep up. I’m good, but not that good.”

Apple Bloom was miffed at being interrupted again, though she had to admit: He made a good point. “Hm… Scootaloo! Ya’ can still pluck apples with Sweetie Belle, but if we start laggin’, help yer pa out. That should balance everythin’ out nicely.”

Just what I was thinking, Gale grinned. “Perfect.” He tousled Scootaloo’s mane, disregarding her irritated groan. The young flier quickly raced her own hoof back through it and shook it about. Gale no doubt the athletic young mare would be up to pulling double duty.

“Alright. Finally,” Apple Bloom reared up… And waited for somepony to interrupt. With no new interjections, she grinned and kicked her forelegs through the air, “let’s do it!”

The five ponies got right to work. The orchard itself came alive as tree after tree was struck and relieved of its produce. Apple Bloom fell into her well-practiced rhythm, with Colton not far behind. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle swarmed their own targets, the former flitting throughout the branches and snatching fruit up, the latter plucking them daintily from their stems. Gale was an orange blur in the sky as he ferried filled baskets back to the barn with haste.

The ponies soon found their way into the Haas and Hanbury apple trees. The side Apple Bloom had worked in the morning was ahead of Colton’s. Switching places let Apple Bloom close the gap, despite Colton being assisted by the other two Crusaders. The autumn sun bore down on their backs as they worked, feeling particularly scorching from all the exertion. Despite the weather, their increased number sped progress up. The two lines of harvest kept pace for a while, though Apple Bloom gradually pulled ahead.

Gale Force, meanwhile, was lagging behind the burst of production. He would barely pause between scooping a bushel up, dropping it off, and racing back to the orchard. As planned, Scootaloo transitioned from apple picking to helping her father out, ferrying apples together. The competitive pegasi couldn’t resist turning each trip into a race. Several ventures led to the duo speeding across the sky. After several trips, though, neither panting pegasus felt like racing. They forced themselves to scale back into a slower, steadier cadence of bushel-carrying.

Sweetie Belle continued on her own at first, but the unicorn soon found herself falling behind Colton. He pulled even further ahead, as he grew more experienced in applebucking, fewer kicks missing and more apples felled with each stroke. Sweetie decided it would be better to help Colton out rather than split themselves too far apart, so she approached the stallion and volunteered. Colton welcomed the help, and the two worked in concert. He’d start a tree off with a kick and Sweetie would work to clear out whatever remained. The two lightened each others’ workload, maintaining a steady pace.

Apple Bloom occasionally checked in with everypony else, and found that this division of labor was working best. Gale and Scootaloo never had a gap, zipping back and forth with apple bushels. Sweetie’s magic sparkled across branches, and Colton and Apple Bloom’s bucking were shaking leaves left and right.

Despite their efforts, the afternoon still drained away faster than Apple Bloom would have liked. Soon it’ll be suppertime. Then dark! The ponies had made their way deep into the Kinsei apples, but the young mare knew that they had much more ground to cover. She whapped her hooves against another tree, countless apples harvested at this point. Ah should be further along. Whap. Ah thought we’d at least gotten through the Orenco apples. Whack. Gettin’ so late already… If Ah only had more time! Apple Bloom bludgeoned the same tree over and over as she fretted. The Running of the Leaves had one less tree to worry about that year.

Apple Bloom dusted foliage out of her mane and moved on to the next tree. “Ya’ know what ya’ gotta do, Apple Bloom. Gotta stay up late, jus’ as ya’ predicted this mornin’. Work into the night. It’s only fer 2 days. Ah got plenty a’ rest an’ Ah’ll get plenty more after it’s all over.” She didn’t know how much progress she could make, but felt an extra hour or two would definitely catch her up. “That’s it. Jus’ some extra time tonight and Ah’ll be back on track.” She perked up and eagerly advanced from tree to tree, ready to take on the rest of her daunting task.

Her second wind was short-lived: The many hours of nonstop applebucking were finally taking their toll. Though her injured hoof wasn’t a bother, her muscles ached and her hind legs throbbed. The sun was just starting to sink past the trees into the horizon, cooling Sweet Apple Acres down to the ponies’ relief, but even the chilled breeze couldn’t soothe Apple Bloom’s looming exhaustion.

It came to a head when the young mare’s latest buck sent not only apples, but a young flier, tumbling out of a tree. “Ow,” Scootaloo emoted flatly as she belly flopped. She elected to lie there a moment, catching her breath.

“Scoot, you alright?” Apple Bloom asked, leaning down and peering at her friend. She was uninjured, but there was another obvious problem: Scootaloo was tired. Much more than Apple Bloom. She must’ve been restin’ up there fer a spell. They’re not used to these long days, she reminded herself.

“I’ve flown marathons without breaking a sweat,” Scootaloo complained, stretching her forelegs out. “But all this lifting’s really getting to me.” Apple Bloom helped Scootaloo to her hooves, giving the pegasus space to steady herself with her wings. “Is it quitting time yet? Are we close to what you need?” She sounded desperate for some time to relax.

“Truth be told, we’re a little more behind than we oughta be,” Apple Bloom admitted with a meek smile. “But don’t fret. Every lil’ bit helps an’ y’all are really givin’ me a leg up. Four in fact.” Apple Bloom looked up, squinting at the horizon. The sun had half-sunk, and was continuing its descent. She spotted Sweetie Belle clearly, her green glowing horn visible in the evening twilight. “Thinkin’ it’s quittin’ time fer the night.” Apple Bloom heaved a sigh, and gave herself a moment to relax her muscles too. Scootaloo being exhausted before her left Apple Bloom thinking of her own fatigue. “C’mon, let’s rustle up the others an’ head back.”

Scootaloo was all too happy to oblige. She opted to flutter beside Apple Bloom to give her weary legs a rest. Apple Bloom caught Sweetie Belle’s eye as the unicorn filled out another bushel. “Sweetie Belle, ya’ hungry?” Apple Bloom invited with a wave. “We’re headin’ in fer supper. Y’all’ve done enough fer the day.”

Sweetie let the last few apples in her magical grip drop and let out a breath, as if holding it the whole time. The unicorn was as tired as the other two. “Alright. Any um… more we can do?” She hesitated to volunteer, but didn’t want to leave Apple Bloom with too big a burden.

“Ah’m good. Y’all’ve done enough fer now,” Apple Bloom repeated, ushering Sweetie Belle over as the trio started their trek for the farmhouse. “It’s suppertime an’ y’all aren’t exactly used ta long farmin’ hours. Last thing Ah wanna do is have ta haul y’all home,” she added, sending the trio into a giggle fit.

Through the laughter, Sweetie Belle picked up on Apple Bloom’s phrasing. “We’re certainly tired,” she accentuated with a wipe of her brow, “but what about you? Quitting time for me and Scootaloo but not yourself? You’re stopping for the night too, aren’t you?”

Apple Bloom rolled one of her shoulders in a halfhearted shrug. “Gotta get it done. Deadline’s tomorrow. Can’t miss it. Ah’m fine.” The other two looked doubtfully at each other. Apple Bloom’s eyelids were drooping, her chest heaved from deep breaths, and she was sweating profusely. She tried to carry herself confidently, keeping her sore legs from quivering and her stride steady.

They weren’t convinced. Scootaloo hovered over Apple Bloom and looked down, concerned. “Apple Bloom, you were just in the hospital… You can’t push yourself too hard or you’ll end up there again, won’t you?”

“Ah was bedridden cuz Ah was sick, not cuz Ah was tired.” Apple Bloom stared grumpily up at the pegasus. “An’ like it ‘er not, Ah’ve got this order ta fill and Ah can handle a long day. Y’all’re my best friends an’ Ah appreciate the help, but y’all ain’t used to long term farmin’. It’s gotta get done and Ah can’t stop any time soon. End—” her head whipped around to Sweetie, whose mouth was open to retort, “—of discussion.” She flicked her tail and marched onward.

The other two Crusaders gave each other a meaningful look, and fell silent. They knew Apple Bloom was right: Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were beat. Sweetie’s hooves were dragging, and Scootaloo’s were dangling limply as she flew. There was no point arguing: They’ve all had stubborn streaks at one point or another, and knew that when one was hot there was no budging.

“Look.” Apple Bloom broke the tension a few moments later. “Ah really am grateful y’all wanna stay. But honestly, Ah’ll be alright.” She offered a small smile. “Ah can take it. That infection couldn’t stop me. An’ order of a thousand bushels ain’t stoppin’ me. Ah’m ready fer a little nighttime applebuckin’.”

Scootaloo sighed but nodded, poking at the top of Apple Bloom’s mane. “Yeah yeah, you’re right. I gotta say… I’m impressed. Not just concerned.” She grinned downward. “I don’t know how you do it Apple Bloom. Guess we all have our own strengths…”

“And yours is being one of the strongest ponies we know!” Sweetie piped up. “Or at least the most endura… endur… long-lasting!”

The mood had brightened considerably by the time the trio had ended up back at the house, a sharp contrast to the rapidly-dimming sky. A few stars began to twinkle as the sun set. The Cutie Mark Crusaders spied three other ponies already milling about inside.

The trio ventured indoors, stew brewing on the stove and making their bellies rumble. They walked through the kitchen into the living room to join the adults resting. Gale Force was taking up the whole couch, on his back, forelegs held aloft and limp. Every twitch from his forelegs made the stallion wince. Colton looked no better off, similarly sprawled on the floor with twitching hindlegs, in a daze. Granny Smith was just coming down the stairs, letting them all rest while she went to tend to supper.

Scootaloo promptly flopped on Gale’s chest, beaming at him. “Wow Dad, tired already?” she teased, carefully avoiding the sore legs. Gale smirked wearily and, despite the ache, rubbed Scootaloo’s mane.

“We can’t all be as diligent as you, kiddo.”

Sweetie Belle settled up on a rocking chair, swaying gently on the furniture and doing her best to not use her head. She rubbed at the base of her horn tenderly. “And I thought my math homework was going to give me headaches tonight,” she mumbled.

Apple Bloom stood in the doorway, wordlessly looking over her ailing friends. She turned away and headed into the kitchen a moment later, gathering up a tray and several glasses of water. She saw just how much they pushed themselves just to their limit, all to help her out. She felt pangs of pride, sympathy, guilt... The young mare further resolved to tough it out and work through the upcoming night. She even peeked towards the back door, pondering getting just a little more work done...

“Not before supper,” she said to herself as she settled now-full glasses onto a tray. Her belly rumbled as she was amidst the tantalizing smell of a thick, delicious vegetable stew brewing on the stove.

“What was that, darlin’?” Granny, busy stirring the pot, inquire.

“Nothin’, Granny. Supper ‘bout ready? Smells great!” And if I need a pick-me-up fer tonight, Ah always got some a’ Zecora’s soup.

Granny tapped the side of the pot a couple times and reset the lid. “Jus’ about. Wrangle yer friends in an’ supper’s served.”

Apple Bloom nodded and moved back to the living room, distributing drinks to her grateful resting friends. There was no way she was going to ask them to stay longer than they had already. Apple Bloom resolved to go it alone, at least for the night.

Supper was a quick affair. There wasn’t much to say and hungry mouths to feed. The ponies ate in relative silence and cleared the plates and bowls, draining the pot of stew dry. Afterwards, Gale Force, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Colton departed. They put up meager forms of protest, but the combined wills of Granny Smith and Apple Bloom urged them away.

“Y’all ain’t gonna work yerselves ta death now. Go on, git!” Apple Bloom had said. “...An’ thanks fer everythin’,” she’d added quietly once the four were finally convinced to leave. Colton and Sweetie took the path to Ponyville. Gale, a curled-up dozing Scootaloo on his back, took to the skies.

The house empty of guests, Apple Bloom flopped on the couch and stretched languidly. She didn’t let herself even think about falling asleep, though. There was too much on her mind and too much at stake. After a few moments’ rest, she sprang back up and headed back into the kitchen. Granny had cleaned it all expertly, leaving nothing on the table except for Apple Bloom’s medicine and a glass of water. Apple Bloom took the tablets and poked her head outside as she drained the glass: It was chilly, breezy, and clear out. Perfect weather.

“Ah know what yer’ thinkin’, Apple Bloom,” Granny said from behind her. Apple Bloom winced, quickly marshalling several rational explanations to refute what Granny was about to say. But they didn’t have a chance to leave tongue before Granny continued. “Should have enough light from the stars tonight, Ah reckon. If not ya’ always got the lanterns.”

Apple Bloom blinked, then smiled up at her grandmother. “Ah’ll try not to be out too late,” she promised, giving a quick hug before turning tail and heading out the door into the evening.

“Knock ‘em outta the orchard, Apple Bloom,” Granny called after the young farmer, shutting the door and stifling a yawn. “Bedtime fer Granny,” she mumbled to herself and making her way to bed.

Well-trodden dirt crunched under Apple Bloom’s hooves as she headed over to the barn. She gazed over the generous stacks of bushels of apples collected. Any normal-sized order of the Apple family’s prized product would’ve been complete three times over with this amount. Apple Bloom sighed, but grinned to herself. “If only,” she spoke wistfully. “Big Macintosh an’ Applejack better bring one long wagon train if they plan on takin’ all these along without havin’ to make a separate trip.” She was sure that they would be cognizant of that fact. Surely. She rubbed one foreleg with another, biting her lip. But what if they don’t? What if…

“Get a grip, Apple Bloom,” she said, disembarking that particular train of thought before it derailed her night. “Ya’ got enough to do without frettin’ over what yer kin got goin’ on.” Nodding to herself assuredly, Apple Bloom moved on by the bushels and headed down into the cellar, the creaking door pulled open.

Apple Bloom had decided to grab the lanterns now. She considered doing the work without them at first, but she didn’t want to make an unnecessary round trip to fetch them later. She spied several lanterns dangling up on hooks on the wall, grabbed them by the ropes and slung them over her back.

Apple Bloom once more trotted into the orchards, lanterns clinking against each other as she ventured back to where they started things off that day. The wagon was right where she had left it. She tossed the lanterns into the back, hooked herself up, and pulled it along to where the ponies had left off for the evening.

While pulling, the young mare’s head swiveled left and right, squinting into the trees for signs of life. The kind that occasionally glowed in the dark. The lanterns themselves were little more than casings of glass, and for them to actually be of any use, Apple Bloom had to convince some fireflies to buzz about in their confines for the evening. With how much land Sweet Apple Acres covered, she was confident that she would eventually run into some before too long.

Apple Bloom’s expectations proved fruitful: As the full moon rose higher into the sky, she spotted a small collective buzzing around not too far off, twinkling along blades of grass. She quickly unhitched herself from the wagon and dragged her clinking lanterns over to the fireflies, gently swaying one lantern at a time over the swath of bugs. Fireflies generally were docile and tame, and these were no exception. Apple Bloom filled her lanterns up in a few minutes’ time.

“Howdy partners,” she spoke to the insentient insects, settling the illuminating lanterns up on either side of the wagon. “Hope y’all don’t mind if Ah borrow you for a spell. Got some work ta do.” She glanced up and over towards the trees still bearing fruit. The many, many trees still dotted with bright colors. “...A lotta work, actually.”

After a bit more wagon-pulling, Apple Bloom shrugged the harness off. She bent down and gave each hind leg a solid half-minute of stretches and twists. She did not want to pull a muscle and leave herself bedridden. Giving her front legs a smaller stretching routine, she shook herself like a dog, limbering her tired self up for a night of applebucking.

While the starlight and moonlight guided her way somewhat, Apple Bloom was thankful she had primed the lanterns. Despite the lack of a torrential downpour, she still found herself squinting at the bark of each tree she flung her hooves into. She wasn’t going to tangle with another nasty bump again if she could help it.

The sounds from Apple Bloom’s harvest echoed through the breezy night air. The smacking of hooves to bark, the toppling of apples, the shaking of leaves, and the occasional grunt from the perspiring pony all contributed to the symphony. Something was nagging at the young mare, but she couldn’t quite put a hoof on it. The niggling feeling continued as she worked, most trees only needing a single kick to relieve their product. She started thinking that something was missing. Someone. But who?Everypony was at supper... Unable to think of the missing someone, Apple Bloom put it out of her mind. She was tired and she knew that she needed to focus.

She kept up her pace despite fatigue threatening to ensnare her. Apple Bloom reared up for another strike when she heard rustling in a nearby bush. She blinked and stood up straight, head swiveling towards the sound. “What could that be?” she wondered aloud. She spied the rustling bush not too far off, it still shivering despite no breeze apparent to bring it to life. “Thievin’ critters?” Apple Bloom guessed, brow furrowing into a slightly threatening glare.

Before she could ponder any more possibilities, the creature within the bush leapt out at Apple Bloom... with a skip and a bark.

“Winona!” Apple Bloom yelped, springing back as the collie herself sprung. “Girl, ya’ scared me half ta death!” The tension left Apple Bloom much faster than it built. She sighed and petted Winona’s head. “Granny musta’ fed you ‘fore we got in fer supper. You were the one missin’!” A sigh of satisfaction escaped Apple Bloom, her nagging feeling put to rest. “Ya’ did good guardin’ today, but ya’ gotta get yer shuteye. Much as I appreciate the company, yer needed durin’ the day.”

Winona tilted her head as Apple Bloom spoke, emitting a small whine as she was being turned away. “Don’t ya’ start,” Apple Bloom warned lightly. She moved her hoof down Winona’s neck and petted across her back. “Ah know yer concerned. Everypony is… But don’t worry. Go get some sleep. Ya’ can go to my room if ya’ like. Ah’ll be up… eventually.”

Winona seemed resigned, but she wasn’t about to disobey. She parted, but only after leaving Apple Bloom with a drool-covered cheek and receiving several more affectionate pets. After that she turned and walked towards the house, occasionally glancing back over her shoulder to see if the pony would change her mind. Apple Bloom was already back at it, though. It didn’t look like that was going to happen. With one last glance to Apple Bloom, Winona turned and headed for home.

“Winona wasn’t guardin’ the stash or in the doghouse, even after supper. Wonder if she had ta chase away some critters… or maybe she was watchin’ over me. If she weren’t doin’ that when Ah fainted, Ah could’ve been left out here fer…” Apple Bloom shuddered and shook her head. “Granny put her up to it, Ah’m sure.” She wasn’t unappreciative, but Apple Bloom knew that whenever Winona put in late hours she wouldn’t want to do a thing the next day. And without Winona keeping the large stash of apples safe, a lot of their work could be for naught.

Doubts and hypotheticals germinated in Apple Bloom’s mind, growing harder to hold off as she grew more tired. She attempted to keep her focus purely on applebucking instead of her thoughts. The pony wanted to just shut her mind off and focus entirely on her work, but it was proving difficult. In an attempt to silence her doubts, Apple Bloom started tracking her progress. This kept her occupied for a while, tearing through tree after tree, basket by basket. Time flew by for the young mare, up until she had to move the wagon forward. Apple Bloom took a brief breather, leaning against the wagon.

“Phew…” she exhaled, grateful for the soft cool breeze billowing across her back. “Solid dozen at least… Now fer my back half to get a rest and my front to get some work done.” The young mare breathed deeply and pushed herself away from the wagon. The unfortunate part of working solo was that there were no ponies to ferry the bushels for the applebucker. Apple Bloom had to hoist each basket up into the wagon, one at a time, by herself.

Time came to roost, now seeming to stand still for Apple Bloom. With her back legs getting a chance to recuperate, it also gave them a chance to cry out for rest. With her working all day with few breaks, her dogs were barking. Even Zecora’s special soup had run its course by this point. Apple Bloom thought about having some more, but with it being so late she was only craving her bed. Apple Bloom groaned as she hefted another bushel off her back into the wagon.

“Maybe a day at the spa,” she pondered, wiping sweat from her brow and pushing herself onward. “Applejack did always rave ‘bout them massages. Relaxin’... Sounds perfect right about now...” She tried to get lost in the fantasy, but jabs of soreness spiking from her legs continuously reiterated reality. Apple Bloom loaded all the bushels she could fit into the wagon, then closed the gate up and slowly made her way to the front. She shot an envious glance to the fireflies in the lanterns. “Much simpler life, lucky bugs,” she mumbled as she achingly strapped herself into the harness.

“Firs’ back, then front… An’ now mah middle,” Apple Bloom muttered, rolling her head about on her stiff neck. Weary shoulder and back muscles braced against the weight of a fully-laden wagon as she started along, Apple Bloom feeling the brunt of the weight along her barrel. She took it in stride, though her breathing had become labored. “‘Least my... hoof’s... behavin’,” she reasoned between panting breaths. With all the other more active aches needling overworked muscles, the once-biting hoof was utterly silent, not even tingling.

Apple Bloom pulled up to the side of the barn, taking a moment to breathe and to stare up at the mass of bushels already harvested. She sighed, figuring she should get a rough count of them before heading in for the night. “Two more trips first. Then Ah find out jus’ how much more there is to do.” Apple Bloom had to fight to continue, biting back pain and fatigue. Unloading the wagon wasn’t nearly as long as loading, but it was also less of a break for her sore body. By the time she was done, her front legs were shuddering involuntarily. But instead of stopping for a break, Apple Bloom pressed on. She hitched herself to the wagon and pulled away from the barn, the house, and a warm, inviting bed within, before temptation could overcome her.

The moon creeped along the night sky, wind being a continued blessing for the overworked apple farmer. Several times between trips Apple Bloom paused and let the wind flow through her mane, enjoying every second of rest. By now, Apple Bloom had to fight for each and every step forward. It was well past midnight by the time the wagon creaked along to the barn for the third time. Apple Bloom disengaged from the harness before flopping onto the ground, legs splayed in all directions. They throbbed in time to each heartbeat, the young mare feeling her chest thump as it rested against the ground.

“Yeah… That’s it fer the night,” she decided, breathing deeply in and out, slowing her pulse and relaxing her heart rate. “Apples in the wagon… can wait… Just count ‘em up an’... an’ then sleep.”

She squeezed her eyes shut a moment, then opened them to track over the many bushels of apples gathered. She hissed in pain as she sat up and back on her haunches, counting away. Even that proved daunting to the exhausted pony, but she pulled through one bushel at a time. When she finished, her heart sank.

“Half… No, less than half!” she breathed. “We busted our rumps all day an’ Ah’ve been out here all night an’ not even half?” Anypony taking a midnight stroll would hear the strange sound of teeth grinding. Apple Bloom muttered and fumed, then sighed, head and ears drooping. “How’re we s’posed ta finish by tomorrow night?” Her hoof scuffed the ground, the pony wallowing in misery as she circled the wagon, releasing the fireflies.

With no more energy left, physical or mental, Apple Bloom trudged home one tired hoof at a time. Her dragging legs nearly made her tumble into the house, but she had the wherewithal to not completely lose her balance. There’s nothin’ for it, she tried to reason. Each slow, grinding step up what felt like a mountain of stairs punctuated a positive thought in the young mare’s mind. Ah’m achin’. Ah’m behind. Ah’m probably not gonna succeed. But Ah ain’t about ta give up.If nothin’ else, mah efforts will feed most of the ponies needing help… Only a few would go hungry, right?

...But even one starvin’ pony’s one too many. There were more ponies counting on Apple Bloom than just her immediate family. Everypony was hurting, and they all needed help. Apple Bloom completed her journey up the stairs, and winced as her legs, body, and neck seared. “All that’s on tomorrow… today… after tonight,” she finished aloud, the ticking clock showing it was past 2 AM. Weary eyes wandered over a dozing Winona, sleeping silently at the foot of the bed. Almost there... Apple Bloom thought, just mere feet from the warm, inviting bed that practically called her name.

She slumped into bed, laying on her side atop every blanket, pink bow and wrapped bandage left on. Apple Bloom’s head smacked against the soft, yielding pillow, eyes staring blankly out the window. Stars twinkled in her vision as she blinked rapidly, tiredly. She didn’t even have the energy to yawn.

She blinked again, eyes drooping… Eyelids barely able to bounce back upward at all... Apple Bloom blinked again, and her foreleg swept over her eyes on instinct as the glaring morning sunlight blazed into the bedroom.

“Ugh…” She could hardly move, neck stiff as a board and legs heavy as tree trunks. Apple Bloom tried to puzzle out why it was so bright out. She just laid down and it was only—

“8:30?!” Apple Bloom croaked out in a raspy voice. She groaned and tried to kick her legs into gear and wiggle her back into motion, but could hardly move. “It can’t be..”

“Apple Bloooom!” Granny’s voice floated out from under the floorboards. “Time ta get movin’! Last day! Git on down here ‘fore breakfast gets cold!”

She groaned again. “Celestia got up too early. Has ta be,” she complained. With a grunt, Apple Bloom finally mustered the strength to roll out of bed. She flumped to the floor unceremoniously, numb to the impact at first. When she dragged herself to her hooves, the shock of the fall suddenly stung. “Owwww,” she moaned, the pony not spared a moment of relief as she trudged out her bedroom. Least Ah don’t have ta make my bed…  Granny wouldn’t let me get away with that. Not even today. Apple Bloom grinned despite herself, which only reminded her how much it hurt to use even those muscles.

Apple Bloom made her way down the stairs, managing not to tumble in the process. “‘Bout time, sleepyhead,” Granny teased as she looked the tired pony over, brushing a hoof over her mane. “Buck up, Apple Bloom. Ah know exactly how yer feelin’ right now. Goin’ at it all day an’ night with hardly a break. Why, ya’ probably feel like a sack a’ taters right about now. Right?” The much older pony let Apple Bloom lean on her, Granny guiding Apple Bloom to the kitchen table. On it sat a small bowl of apple cinnamon oatmeal, and a much larger one, both steaming. Apple Bloom sat heavily. She slumped and nearly fell asleep again, cheek resting against the wooden surface.

“Now now, ya’ got all weekend ta do that,” Granny chided, nudging Apple Bloom with a spoon that she then offered. “Eat up. Double helpin’ this mornin’, to really get you goin’.” Apple Bloom mumbled incoherently in response, but Granny was sure she heard a semblance of gratitude. Granny ate politely as Apple Bloom inhaled her portion.

“Do ya’ know how apples we bucked yesterday?” Apple Bloom growled after finishing. “Less than half!” She threw her spoon down, sending it clattering to the floor. “...An’ nopony’s showed up yet neither! An’ we gotta work at least… at least double!” Before Granny could get a word in, Apple Bloom pushed herself up from her finished breakfast and medicine and stomped her way outside, slamming the door behind her.

Granny sighed and decided to just let her go. “Nothin’ Ah’ll say right now will do her good. Her stewin’ on that news all night and not gettin’ much sleep… Not pokin’ that ursa.” Granny meandered to the window to both watch Apple Bloom march off, and steal a glance towards town. “She’ll work out her frustrations quick enough… Though Ah do wonder where those stallions are…”





“Ugh… my legs.”

“Ugh, my legs.”

Gale Force and Sir Colton Vines III trudged towards Sweet Apple Acres. The duo had both managed to wake up on time, though they couldn’t get their bodies moving as fast as they wanted.

“Well you don’t have to walk, you know,” Colton grumbled. “Unless your wings are hurting worse than your legs.” The earth pony wished he could take off at that point. Or teleport, for that matter. But he was stuck with sore hindlegs, occasionally limping.

“Nah,” Gale shook his head. “Wanna keep them nice and rested for as long as I can… even if we are running… walking… late. Glad I bumped into you though. That breakfast was something else.”

Colton nodded in agreement. “Yeah, figured we’d need a buffet to keep us going today,” he reasoned. “I can harvest a field of grapes, no sweat. But an orchard? Multiple orchards? I hope we can just get through what we need to do, for Apple Bloom’s sake.”

The pegasus pondered, eyes rolling to the sky in thought. “Wonder how much more there is to do. Or if Apple Bloom’s ready to go at it all day again. Especially after being at it all night.” The two stepped through the trellis arch and onto the farm proper.

“Wait, she kept going after dark last night? I mean granted, she didn’t seem as tired as we were, but I thought she was just putting on a show of strength.”

Gale shook his head. “Scootaloo told me she was planning on working through the night. Even with all of us helping she’s still behind.”

Colton grimaced, the two rounding the barn. “Yeesh. Guess we have our work cut out for us.”

The two stallions mulled over the generous stacks of bushels already harvested, wondering just how many more there were to go. Spying no wagon, the two ventured into the trees to get to where they’d started yesterday. It didn’t take long for them to catch up to Apple Bloom once they ventured inward. The young mare pulled the missing wagon along, stacked to the brim with empty baskets.

“Hey Apple Bloom!” Gale greeted with a big grin. One that withered as the young mare stared daggers back at the perky pegasus. “How are you doing? ...Good?”

“Yer late,” she answered curtly. Apple Bloom swiftly unhooked from the wagon harness and climbed in. “C’mon, plenty to do, no time fer standin’ around. Grab some baskets. We’re startin’ with the Pendragon apples today.” She gestured around herself impatiently at the various trees dotted with fruit yet to be picked or bucked. “Same routine as before. Gale, yer ferryin’, Colton, yer buckin’. An’ Ah hope ya’ can keep up this time around. Got it?” Apple Bloom shot a challenging glare to both older ponies. They acquiesced without a word and started immediately. The two did their best to hide the soreness they were still feeling from yesterday, each having the same thought: The last thing Apple Bloom needed to hear was anypony complaining.

Apple Bloom herself, however, wasn’t hiding anything. As Gale flew off with his first of many bushels, Colton studied the young mare. He could see her steps faltering every now and again, but his more startling observation was that he was keeping up with her. Yesterday Apple Bloom peeled away from Colton without breaking a sweat. Today, he found her taking several swings to harvest a single tree. Some blows were off target, sometimes outright missing.

After carrying on for several minutes, Colton resolved to do something. It’s one thing to be stressed, but another if Apple Bloom ends up being too distracted to work. Worse still if she hurts herself. At the same time, the fellow farmpony knew just how stubborn an Apple could be, with Apple Bloom being no exception. Bracing for the worst, Colton stepped over to Apple Bloom and gave her a ginger tap on the shoulder.

“What?!” Apple Bloom snapped, whipping around as a gentle tap to her shoulder broke her train of thought. Granny was wrong: The young mare’s clumsy efforts had only served to further infuriate her, rather than relieve stress. Her tail flicked irritably, the usually-clean bow dirty, torn, and barely clinging.

Colton hesitated a moment, but stood his ground. “Apple Bloom, what’s up? You seem… on edge. What’s eating you?”

“Nothin’.” Apple Bloom snorted.

“You sure?” Colton pressed, poking the ursa. “You’re being awfully snippy this morning. Did you get enough sleep?”

The dam burst. “Oh, plenty. What Ah didn’t get was enough apples bucked despite bein’ up all night, and Ah ain’t got nothin’ ta stress over ‘cept fer a mountain of apples ta buck an’ y’all go and show up late this mornin’ an’ Ah barely got any sleep an’ Ah’m so frustrated I could just scream!” Apple Bloom planted her hooves out and lowered her head, chest heaving.

Colton just took a seat and let her rant. He spied a flash of orange in the corner of his eye, Gale flying towards them to retrieve another bushel. Colton quietly shook his head and gave a shooing motion. Gale suddenly decided it was a good time to go check on Winona.

Colton stretched casually in front of the fuming pony, laying couchant. He chanced a smile. “Feel better?”

Apple Bloom glowered, about to pounce the prying pony and give him something significantly less than better to feel. But the thought left as quick as it arrived, and her expression morphed from fury to fatigue. Her legs gave out and she flopped to the ground. “Much,” she mumbled, winded and blushing. “A-Ah’m sorry, Colton. Ah didn’t mean to go off on you like that. It’s jus’—”

“I got the gist of it,” he chuckled, patting Apple Bloom. “You’re overworked, overstressed, and have to work harder than before to make ends meet.” He stood up and pointed down at her. “But what you have to do is put all that out of your mind and focus. And in order to do that, I think you need to take a tiny break. You look… well, terrible.” Apple Bloom still panted, bow hanging by a thread and bandage completely unraveled. She didn’t deny the accusation, laying there silently. “Why don’t you go back inside and freshen up? Gale and I can continue while you take a bit to rejuvenate yourself. Because honestly, I don’t think you’ll accomplish much the way you are right now.”

Apple Bloom bit her lip, mulling over his advice. She closed her eyes and exhaled slowly. “Yer right. Ah gotta get my head on straight.” She looked back at her tail and flicked it, her bow fluttering to the ground. “An’ the rest a’ me, matter a’ fact.”

Colton smiled, relieved. He stuck his hoof out to offer Apple Bloom a leg up. She took it, pulled herself to her hooves, and scooped up her bow. She then leaned forward and embraced Colton in a quick, firm hug. “Ah needed that,” she admitted, and trotted her way home.

Colton wiped his brow once Apple Bloom had set off. “Made it through that unscathed!” He took a breath. “Wasn’t expecting her to take it so well…”

“You’d make a good therapist,” a voice piped up from behind the grape farmer. Gale Force’s head peered out from a tree’s leaves, upside-down. “Well, a good pillow to vent frustrations into at any rate.” The pegasus slipped casually out of the tree and landed on all fours.

“Uh… thanks? I guess.” Colton shrugged, then chuckled. “Had to do something though. Hopefully Apple Bloom’ll get back into high spirits. We should continue though. You heard her, right? We’re still behind schedule.”

Gale blinked. “Is that was that was all about? Huh. I hoped with her putting in some overtime we would’ve pulled ahead.” He followed Colton along as the earth pony began applebucking again, Gale waiting for a few to fill up so he had a bit of a backlog of bushels to work against.

Colton shook his head as delivered another blow to the bark. “Nu-uh. Apparently we have to do more than what we did yesterday. Didn’t even make it through half the order.”

“Are you serious?” Gale balked with a flap of his wings. “With all of us going at it all day? With Apple Bloom going at it all night? Ugh, what’re we going to… do...” he slowed, shifting weight from one side to the other as he stood and pondered.

Colton bucked another tree and winced as the shock reverberated through his system. “Well, one apple farmer and four non-apple farmers. Probably works out to maybe 2 ponies working the fields. Guess that wasn’t enough.”

Gale nodded, still rooted to the spot, thinking. “But we were going at it pretty hard yesterday. Don’t know how much more juice we can squeeze out of this turnip by tonight.”

“Unless we throw more hooves at this, you’re probably right,” Colton agreed. “Speaking of which, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo could probably get another half-day at school. That would help some. Hope they’re not too out of it though.”

Gale’s eyes lit up. “Hey, you’re right!” he exclaimed. “Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle and… hm.” The pegasus paced back and forth, wings aflutter. “Yeah, that should do it! Can you keep up here by yourself for a bit? I’m gonna go get my daughter out of class.”

Colton nodded and rested a moment. He took special care to settle his back hooves down gingerly. “Well you could, you leaving early to fetch the two?”

Gale Force just winked and crouched, before launching himself into the sky with a strong flap of his wings. He banked away from the orchards and towards Ponyville in one fluid movement, saluting down at Colton. “I’ll be back before too long!” he shouted, disappearing in an orange blur towards Ponyville.

Colton looked around the empty orchard and rolled his shoulders. “Whatever it is you’re planning, Gale, it better be quick,” he mumbled as he gave another wincing kick to a tree. “I know I won’t be able to do this by myself all day.”





Apple Bloom marched straight inside. Winona briefly peeked up from her bowl, before resuming her breakfast. Granny Smith, crunching numbers at the table, looked up from her work. The younger Apple, dishevelled and dirty, shot her a brief grin before silently passing by. She don’t look any worse for wear than when she left the house, Granny mused. That smile’s all the confirmation Ah need though. Knew a bit a’ buckin’ would help her out.

Apple Bloom made it upstairs, tossed her dirty bow into her room, yanked the remnants of her bandage off, stepped into the bathroom, and shut the door behind her. Sighing in relief, she turned on the showerhead and gratefully stepped into the tub. Hot water sluiced through her mane and blanketed her aching body, dulling the pains momentarily. Apple Bloom smiled all throughout her respite in the shower, even trotting in place to shake herself out of the weariness that had cut to the bone.

After drying off, first with a towel then like a dog to further limber up, Apple Bloom got her appearance in order. She brushed her tail and donned a fresh bow, then worked on her mane. She parted her mane down the middle, maintaining the look Rarity had given her just days prior. Feels like that was years ago. She amused herself recalling about how bad she thought she had it then. Compared to now that was a walk in the park! She giggled to herself, brushing her mane and smiling at her reflection as a freckled face beamed back at her.

The smile started to fade, though, as doubts began creeping back. They seeped back into her mind as quickly as she could bail them out. Apple Bloom sighed at her reflection. “Can’t win jus’ by mopin’. Though Ah gotta face facts.” She trotted over to the open window and stared out over the orchards, resting her chin on the windowsill. “There ain’t enough time an’ there ain’t enough ponies to finish. Ah’m sure everypony’ll be peachy ‘bout what we’ve done… but what’ll they all think? Big Macintosh and Applejack? Ma an’ Pa?”

Apple Bloom pictured the scene vividly. When showing up at Green Apple Grove, she’d be met with cheers and have a happy initial reunion. Then Granny Smith would relay her ultimate failure to the rest of her family. They’d all give her a pat on the back and mutter something about job well done. But those words would do little to veil their through thoughts on the matter: She failed. When push came to shove, Apple Bloom couldn’t cut it. Maybe they’d realize she wasn’t cut out for applebucking after all. Maybe—

“Alright, imagination, cut it out.” Apple Bloom glared up at her own forehead. “They ain’t gonna kick ya’ out of the family er anythin’ so outrageous. Ma, Pa, Big Mac an’ Applejack will just be… disappointed.” The earth pony stood and stretched her legs one at a time, then shook herself from head to tail.

“We’ll do what we can do. Me, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Granny Smith, Colton an’ Gale. It’s all we can do. An’ that’ll have ta be enough.” Apple Bloom strode out of the room with a flick of her bow-adorned tail, and headed downstairs. Fresh bandages remained atop her dresser. The confident pony was sure her hoof was good enough on its own.

She went to the kitchen to fetch one of the thermoses Zecora had given her the other night and quickly quaffed the spicy soup down. Apple Bloom could feel the heat glide down her throat, burning to the point of making her eyes water. The concoction only served to spur her on, the second breakfast providing more energy for the overworked Apple. Wiping her mouth, Apple Bloom headed out of the house, not stopping until she was back to work.

“Whatever happens, happens.”





“...What’s happenin’ is bein’ a lotta bushels short of a barrel.”

Apple Bloom was seated out at the picnic table with Colton just outside the barn. She tore her view away from the bushels and gazed skyward. Gale Force, having rejoined an hour ago, was making up for lost time. The two earth ponies, meanwhile, were waiting for Granny Smith to bring out an eagerly-anticipated lunch. Colton’s stomach growled, but it stood a distant second to Apple Bloom’s own, her double dose of breakfast all but expended.

“Well now, won’t be long, will it?” Colton asked, poking his head over Apple Bloom to catch her eye. “We have ‘til when? 7?”

“They didn’t give an exact time,” Apple Bloom answered with a shrug. “Ah reckon it’ll be later than that, though. Big Macintosh an’ Applejack ain’t gonna leave the grove ‘til they have to, plus they gotta hook up a mighty long wagon train so as to fit all them bushels.” Apple Bloom nodded at the ever-growing stack. “Ah’m not stoppin’ until they set hoof back on the farm. No matter how late they come.” An’ the later they are the more time we’ll have.

“Those two better be on time,” Granny Smith warned. She trotted up to the two with a platter of sandwiches and another wooden thermos on her back. She slid the tray onto the table and took a seat. “Ain’t no way they’ll be tardy er they’re gettin’ an earful. Can’t expect them ta be late when they’re askin’ so much a’ you, Apple Bloom.”

The young mare, however, wasn’t perturbed at the notion. “Ah mean if they are it jus’ means we’ll have more time, right?” She reached for a sandwich and chomped down half of it, dragging the thermos over as well.

Apple Bloom munched away in relative silence as Colton and Granny Smith conversed. She did her best to not wince as her at-rest body began to flare up. There were no longer just twinges of soreness of light aches pestering the pony. Those were replaced with deeper waves of fatigue and wear. Her hindlegs in particular had a subtle, throbbing ache to them. The constant shocks to her flank muscles and lower back from applebucking weren’t doing her any favors, and last night’s wagon pulls left her barrel in pain too. She was sore from head to chest to blank flanks to hooves. It almost hurt to eat.

Apple Bloom tried to keep it all distant. She heeded the pain’s warnings, but would not it slow her down. If nothin’ else, it’s keepin’ me awake, she rationalized. The tired young mare had no doubt she could fall asleep on the spot if she tried, but she’d have plenty of time to rest after today.

Despite the aches, even the most stubborn of apple ponies couldn’t ignore everything an exhausted body tossed their way. Apple Bloom had gotten little rest the past day and a half. Sitting and eating gave her too much time to dwell. Ah’m pushin’ mahself further than ever. Ah can barely keep mah eyes open! She threatened to nod off there at the table, barely managing to keep her head aloft to take another bite. Jus’ a few more hours, Apple Bloom, she coached herself, doing all she could to keep the bone-deep fatigue at bay.

Downing a third sandwich and finishing up the soup, Apple Bloom put those thoughts out of her mind and let her eyes wander, trying to distract herself with something. It was another nice, breezy day, the weather ponies keeping up with the promised forecast to not rain on the Sweet Apple Acres parade. She gazed over past the barn, over to where some of the other animals were out and about. Granny Smith had been taking care of them while Apple Bloom was otherwise occupied. They’re better off that way. Ah’d probably think’ a pig was a Golden Delicious tree. That wouldn’t go over well. The young mare probably would’ve forgotten things like feeding times to boot, and the last thing the Apples needed to deal with were a bunch of hungry, irate animals.

Apple Bloom spied sheep milling about along an open patch of field by the barn, enjoying the day. She spied Abraram and Bethany, leading Joseph along gently. The infant happily bounded along without care or worry. He was with family and didn’t have a single responsibility to his name. Now that’s the life, Apple Bloom thought, smiling wistfully.

Granny Smith walked across Apple Bloom’s vision. “Think y’all’ll survive without me fer a spell? Gotta be gettin’ some grub fer supper with all these mouths ta feed.”

“We’ll be alright,” Apple Bloom assured. Granny was in better shape to make that small journey than her at this point, from a health and schedule perspective both. “Think we’re ‘bout ready to dive back in here.”

Granny nodded to the two chowing down, and to Gale Force, who’d just come in for a landing to grab a sandwich of his own. The pegasus gave Granny a knowing look as the old mare trotted off. “Off for more food I’m guessing?” he asked, biting into his own lunch. “Smart, considering the food we’re gonna go through by tonight.”

“What, between you two?” Colton interjected. Though working hard, the grape farmer had stuck to just a single sandwich. Apple Bloom had claimed most of the platter. “Didn’t think we were that low. Though I guess with all us being around for supper last night and today…”

“Hey, speakin’ of them others,” Apple Bloom said, glancing towards Ponyville, “seems like Scootaloo an’ Sweetie Belle are here!” Her fellow Crusaders walking towards the farm, just breaching the horizon as they toddled over the hill. They each had big grins on their faces. “Huh. Lookin’ pretty spry considerin’ how hard they were workin’ last night.” She turned away and gave Gale an inquisitive look. “Scootaloo actually go straight ta bed after leavin’?”

Gale Force had the same wide grin on his muzzle, giving Apple Bloom pause. “Hm? Oh yeah, slept like a rock,” the pegasus confirmed, nodding towards the approaching ponies. “But I’m pretty sure I know why she and Sweetie are looking so optimistic.”

Apple Bloom rose an eyebrow and turned back toward the hill. Her jaw dropped. The entirety of the class of the school of Ponyville were behind the two Crusaders. A couple dozen ponies, fillies and colts of all ages, headed their way, chattering amongst themselves. Miss Cheerilee brought up the rear.

“Huh. Guess that’s why Granny needed to go shopping,” Colton figured, giving Gale a friendly punch in the shoulder. “No wonder you were insistent on flying off this morning.”

“Had to do something,” Gale shrugged, smile plastered on his face as Apple Bloom raced off to greet her friends and schoolmates. “We’re behind schedule and Cheerilee was willing to let two of her students off to help. Why not anypony else? Call it a field trip.” He stuffed a second sandwich into his mouth, sitting back and relaxing.

Winona was beside herself. Breaking away from guard duty, the collie bounced from filly to colt, barking and licking and staying still only when pets and scritches were offered. Only after a still-in-earshot Granny ordered her back to the bushels did she separate from the student body, to the disappointment of the crowd.

Apple Bloom’s aching forelegs swung around Sweetie and Scootaloo’s necks, squeezing tightly. “Am I glad to see ya’ both!” she beamed, the other Crusaders smiling weakly as Apple Bloom threatened to cut off circulation. “All of you!” she addressed the crowd of ponies. She smiled down at Sweet Pea in particular. The smallest filly of the bunch looked as eager as the rest to help. Apple Bloom even spotted Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon milling about in the back. They’d long outgrown their petty rivalries with the Crusaders, but that didn’t stop the pair from looking less than thrilled to be here.

Apple Bloom approached the two, grinning. “Ready ta get yer hooves dirty?”

They rolled their eyes, but bit back a retort. One quick glance told them how overworked Apple Bloom was. Diamond grimaced at what applebucking could do to a pony’s complexion. “Eugh… Miss Cheerilee offered anypony willing to help a heap of extra credit, and we weren’t about to turn down such a generous offer,” she started. “...But it does look like you could use a little help. Who better to lend a hoof then us?”

Apple Bloom kept the grin. “Ah know y’all’d rather be… I dunno, playin’ with dolls or somethin’. But Ah do really ‘preciate it.” Knowing a hug from a sweat-covered pony would send them running for the hills, Apple Bloom left the two untouched and approached her teacher. “Thanks Miss Cheerilee,” she said as way of greeting, appreciation etched on every feature of her sore, weary form.

Cheerilee smiled gently to her pupil, waving off the thanks. “You know the saying, Apple Bloom. It takes a village and all.” She glanced over the pack of ponies milling about, most enjoying the fresh air and extra time spent out of the schoolhouse. “Or a class at any rate. Your friends made a pretty compelling case to leave school. Along with Gale Force,” she added, nodding towards the pegasus. “It was his idea, actually, bringing all your classmates along. They were more than willing to help a fellow student in need!”

“The way Ah figure, ya’ helped… encourage their participation too,” Apple Bloom reminded, to which the teacher only smiled. “Though still, can’t thank ya’ enough, Miss Cheerilee. Ah promise Ah won’t let ‘em work too hard. An’—”

“Apple Bloom?” Colton’s voice called out over the noise from all the younger ponies chattering. “Ready to get going again? Clock’s ticking isn’t it?”

Apple Bloom blinked, looked up at the post-noon sun. “Oh horseapples… beggin’ yer pardon Miss Cheerilee,” she added hastily. She dashed away from her teacher, through the throng of students, and stepped up onto the picnic table. She put a hoof to her teeth and let a sharp whistle ring out.

The students fell quiet. Cheerilee ushered them all in closer to the table, forming a wide half circle around it. Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were in the center, beaming proudly up at their fellow Crusader. Cheerilee and Colton stood behind the younger ponies. Gale Force hovered over the group, his wing beats the only sound heard as all were silent and waiting to hear what Apple Bloom had to say. A Sudden bit of stage fright struck the young mare, but it passed as quickly as it arrived. Ah wish that was mah only concern right now... She cleared her throat and smiled.

“Alright. First Ah wanna thank y’all fer makin’ yer way out here. Y’all have no idea how relieved Ah am.” She glanced over the throng of ponies, studying them briefly. “Okay so first a show of hooves: How many a’ y’all have farmed er harvested er anything?” Apple Bloom’s eyes scanned the group as a half-dozen legs shot up, not counting those from the adults and Crusaders. She took a head count. “Don’t worry if y’all haven’t. Ain’t too difficult ta do basic pickin’ an’ carryin’. All ya’ gotta keep in mind is not to go bruisin’ the apples. An’ don’t carry more than you can handle. A tumbled bushel’s good to nopony.”

Apple Bloom leaned her head left then right, working out a plan similar to yesterday’s. “We’re gonna have two groups. We need ponies ta buck an’ pick, and ponies ta ferry. If ya’ got a strong pair a’ back hooves er are decent with magic er flyin’, ya’ can harvest. Everypony else’ll be haulin’. If ya’ wanna do one er the other that’s fine. Jus’ make sure ya’ll’re keepin’ busy. We only got a few hours ‘fore the deadline, and we’re needin’ a full order.”

Apple Bloom paused to take a breath as the students nodded in understanding. There wasn’t much to the task, and most had an idea of which of the two jobs they’d be better-suited for. “Ah want applebuckers over here, an’ the rest over here,” she indicated, and the ponies started to split themselves up. It took several minutes for everypony to situate themselves, a few unsure of which would be better. Sweet Pea in particular looked uncertain. She raised her front legs onto the picnic table, just able to reach, and tugged at Apple Bloom. The farmer blinked and peeked down.

“Uh, Apple Bloom?” she squeaked, ears splayed. “I-I’m not sure if I can do either of those things… I’m not that strong… Not nearly as strong as you.”

Apple Bloom couldn’t help but blush, and giving the little filly a reassuring smile. “Every little bit helps, Sweet Pea. Ya’ don’t have to be liftin’ anything more than ya’ can handle. Ah’m sure other ponies would be more than happy to have help heftin’ bushels back to the barn.” She gave the filly a pat on her mane with a dusty hoof. “Even one bushel’s one less that Ah’ve gotta fret over. Okay?”

Apple Bloom’s reassuring grin and words made Sweet Pea sprout a smile of her own, the filly saluting. “Yes, ma’am!” she said sincerely, skipping over to the ferrying group.

Apple Bloom sighed as Sweet Pea scampered off. Ah sure hope nopony gets themselves hurt just fer helpin’ me out, she worried, shaking her head and counting out the teams. Gale was hovering with the carrying crowd, while Colton was doling out advice to the harvesting crew. “Hm, little bit heavy on the buckin’ crowd but it should do,” she mumbled, putting hoof to mouth and letting another whistle fly.

“Alright ponies. Ah want at least two to a tree. Nopony’s flyin’ solo. If y’all need help, just ask. If y’all’re tired, take a breather and get a drink. T’ain’t yer marathon to run,” Apple Bloom spoke with authority, going on to explain where baskets were and where the full bushels should go. She glanced over her shoulder at the trees, softly billowing in the autumn wind. What she thought was impossible this morning was now just in hoof’s reach. Donning a smile, she turned back to the ponies. “Any questions?”

Nopony spoke up. Apple Bloom nodded to the silence and hopped off the table, rearing up on the ground and kicking her forelegs. “Let’s go!” she exclaimed, turning tail and galloping straight into the trees. A thundering of hooves roared behind her as everypony charged inward with Apple Bloom, following her lead and filtering into the many trees of Sweet Apple Acres.

The stampede was music to Apple Bloom’s ears. They weren’t going to be the most efficient, but throwing two dozen ponies at this just might tip the scales in her favor. We just might pull this off!

The orchards were alive with the sound of applebucking.

With Gale Force absent most of the morning, there were plenty of already-picked bushels ready to be carried back to the barn. The weatherpony wasn’t accustomed to playing the role of boss, but that didn’t make him any less effective at divvying out the work. He’d seen the ponies he had to work with, and he had a plan. Some ponies he let carry solo. Others he paired up. Two ponies could easily carry a bushel on their own, but the real question would be how endurant everypony was. That was something the pegasus had to adjust on the fly.

Colton had his work cut out for him. A lot of the older schoolponies had volunteered for the task of harvesting. For the most part, he was able to keep everypony in pairs. He made sure to pair somepony who could reach with somepony who could buck, usually leading to a unicorn or pegasus paired with an earth pony. There was only one exception that Colton had allowed: There was an earth pony duo, where one insisted, and quickly proved, how adept she was a tree climbing. In addition to the work balance, Colton also made sure that nopony overworked themselves. He carried on with his own applebucking, stopping to help out any harvesters in need.

Cheerilee supervised the student body as a whole. She made sure everypony stayed on task, as long periods of manual labor could lead a pony astray, mentally or otherwise. Nopony had to put in any more effort than they wanted to, though she made sure nopony goofed off or got lost. She bounced between both teams, occasionally ferrying a bushel herself.

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle continued their work from yesterday. Their experience from the other day gave them a leg up on the others. It was clear just after a little while, though, that they had not fully recovered from the previous day’s efforts. As such, they were keeping pace with most of the newcomers. They knew it was better to go slow and keep at it, than go fast and be forced to give up. Scootaloo occasionally switched off from harvesting to carrying, leaving Sweetie to help out a fellow classmate so she never worked alone.

The afternoon sun slowly crawled over the sky, beaming down on all the ponies working in Sweet Apple Acres. Scootaloo, on return flight from one of many bushel carries, came in for a landing by Sweetie Belle. Apple Bloom’s brow was furrowed, going from tree to tree despite the ever-growing fatigue and aches pulling at her every step of the way.

“Hey Sweetie, do you know how many more apples we actually need?” Scootaloo asked, hefting a bushel onto her back, opting to walk this one back to give her wings a break.

“Nu-uh,” Sweetie said, half-distracted as she used her magic to pluck some Scifresh apples. “And honestly I’m afraid to ask. Maybe just enough for a couple more hours of work?”

Scootaloo glanced sideways at a pair of younger colts stumbling along, only just managing to not spill the bushel they were carrying. “I’m not so sure,” she commented hesitantly. “I mean we couldn’t finish all this today on our own. And even though others are helping, I’m not so sure we’d get done that quick—”

“We won’t get done no sooner if y’all keep gabbin’ away all afternoon,” a drawl cut in. Sweetie and Scootaloo jerked their heads up and over to Apple Bloom, bushel on her back, walking towards them. They were prepared for a verbal reaming, but Apple Bloom just smiled. “Trust me: Ah’ve been havin’ them exact doubts fer days now. Ah know how it looks, but buck up.” She stood by Scootaloo, the pegasus and earth pony each with a bushel in tow. “C’mon girls,” she offered, nodding towards the barn.

The two bushel-clad young mares stared at Sweetie Belle until she got the hint. “Oh!” she squeaked, magicking a third bushel onto her own back, the three setting off for the barn.

“Are y’all hangin’ in there?” Apple Bloom asked, the grin on her face doing a poor job of hiding aches and fatigue.

“Yeah, I’m doing alright,” Scootaloo answered first. “Pretty sure my weekend will consist of a large cloud, a tall glass of lemonade, and a nice long comic book.” The pegasus’ head was hunched over. Sweetie Belle matched the poor posture, an eye twitching every once in a while.

“Ugh, not me,” she commented. “The last thing I wanna do after all this is read. Or work. Or do anything. Maybe a trip to the spa and a soak in the hot tub for… days.”

“Ah could go fer a few weeks myself,” Apple Bloom admitted, standing taller above the two. Though etched across every facial feature, she was temporarily relieved of the worst of the tiredness and pain. The afternoon’s work and a post-lunch snack consisting of the last Zecora’s soup had given her a second wind. “Least Ah’ll be gettin’ some shuteye tonight. While enjoyin’ a nice countryside road trip.”

Scootaloo rotated her head on her shoulders some, stretching her neck gingerly. “You’re going down with your brother and sister when they come get all the apples tonight?” she guessed. “Figured they would’ve let you stay home and rest up after all you’ve been through.”

“Eh, Ah’d be goin’ even if they wanted me to stay here. Not exactly a party havin’ ta dole out all these apples but it’ll be a family reunion practically.” Apple Bloom realized that she was actually looking forward to that trip.

“Well I just hope they don’t make you unload all these yourself,” Sweetie Belle said, eye twitching as an errant spark of magic harmlessly flittered to the ground. “I don’t think you’d survive.”

“Are you kidding?” Scootaloo interjected with a flap of her wings. “Apple Bloom could do it all again!” She grinned sharply. “I’ve never seen a pony work so hard or so long at... Well... Anything I think! Not even me! ...Maybe Rainbow Dash.”

Apple Bloom giggled. “Aw shucks, Scoot. It ain’t much more than applebuckin’ is all…”

Sweetie Belle angled over to give Apple Bloom a nudge. “Don’t be so modest. Rarity does that all the time! I’ve seen her pull all-nighters and every time she’s done she’s always ‘oh it was nothing, Darling’. I’m sure only you or your sibs could rustle up this much fruit this fast!”

“Rustlin’s fer leaves,” Apple Bloom said bluntly, sending the tired trio into a fit of laughter. They gradually made it to the barn together, slipping their burdens from their backs. Apple Bloom smiled warmly to her fellow Crusaders. “Seriously though, girls. All this help means a lot.”

Apple Bloom’s eyes wandered to other ponies milling to and from the pile, unloading bushels of their own. She could hardly believe how large the stack was getting. Granny Smith was off by herself, keeping inventory and tracking the rapid arrivals. Apple Bloom wanted to find out how much more they had to go, but knew that the news would more likely be bad than good. So she turned away and headed back for the orchard. “Alright, ‘nuff of breaktime. We’re settin’ the tone fer everypony here.”

Scootaloo blinked. “That was breaktime?” She shrugged, spread her wings, and took off. “You got it Apple Bloom. See you two back on the inside!” she shouted over her shoulder as the pegasus flew.

“On the inside of what? The trees?” Sweetie Belle wondered aloud as she followed Apple Bloom inward as well, lagging behind the farmpony. “I mean we are still outside… but maybe inside the orchard is what she meant. Or maybe— ow.” Another twinge and another twitch flashed across Sweetie’s face. She sighed, but kept pace, rubbing a hoof to her forehead.

“Bet my magic’ll be twice as good as it was. If my head ever stops hurting,” she mumbled. The unicorn wanted nothing more than to curl up under a tree and nap. But she knew she wasn’t going to rest until she was told to, or when Apple Bloom quit. Even if her twitching eye and throbbing head desperately wanted the opposite. Nevertheless, Sweetie marched onward, throwing herself back into the labor and trying not to think about it.

Apple Bloom was already at it again. She barely took note of the other ponies making their way around her, either harvesting or ferrying. Apple Bloom fell into her routine: Step to a tree, rear back, buck, repeat. By now it was second nature for her to sequester the doubts and pains that needled away at her. Just a few more hours...

Other ponies occasionally tried to ask Apple Bloom about progress, or how she was doing. While the farmpony didn’t outright ignore them, she was in the zone and only offered one or two word responses. Eventually they took the hint and let her be.

The afternoon wore on slowly, Apple Bloom not stopping. She was caked in sweat, and her refusal to acknowledge the growing weariness in her bones was finally taking its toll. Each fresh sweep to the bark left her hindlegs feeling just a little bit heavier. Every bushel she lugged back to the barn felt like three. While she maintained good accuracy and was able to keep most trees to one kick, she had to put more oomph into each attempt. Apple Bloom grunted with each buck, her front legs shaking whenever they bore her weight, but she gritted her teeth and never faltered.

Occasionally she’d glance up to the sky, her only indicator of time passing. Despite the deadline looming, Apple Bloom cringed as it looked like almost no time had gone by. She let her head hang low going from one tree to the next, her snout skimming along the grass. Her tail was equally slouched as the young mare focused the bulk of her reserves on walking, carrying, and applebucking.

The plague of fatigue came to a head when an off-target kick scraped her back hooves alongside the bark, the abrasive noise ringing against her ears. Apple Bloom panicked and immediately sat on her haunches, checking on her hooves. Hours upon hours of applebucking had left them dinged and scratched all over, but there was no apparent injury. The hoof that had previously sustained so much strife looked as good as the other. Apple Bloom let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. Only sounded bad, but nothin’ came of it. Thank goodness...

“But it coulda’ been worse,” she mumbled to herself. Apple Bloom rubbed her eyes and shook her head. “That’s it. Time fer a short break.” She limped her way back to the barn, carrying nothing. It had never felt quite so far away as it did now. Apple Bloom stretched what she could as she journeyed, looking about for other signs of life, but she was the only one out this far.

She sighed and pushed onward, wincing every other step. It was rough for a pony to try and keep the brunt of their walk on one half of their body. Apple Bloom’s hind hooves ached terribly, and she wanted desperately to walk on her two front legs. She wouldn’t chance that balancing act, though, and was resigned to feeling a small shooting pain up either leg as they made impact with the ground. Her tail matched her head, each drooped and dragging along as she put one hoof in front of the other.

After what felt like forever, Apple Bloom caught up with some other ponies. Among the few making their way out of the orchards still was little Sweet Pea. The sight of the filly gritting her teeth and helping to lug along a partially-laden bushel bolstered Apple Bloom. Figured Sweet Pea woulda’ called it quits by now, but there she is. An’ if she’s still at it, Ah can make it too.

The rest of the trek back to the house went along smoothly, Apple Bloom’s mind now on her friends instead of her hooves. She flopped in open yard before the house, groaning and rolling onto her back. An upside-down Granny Smith peeked over her head and smiled. “Takin’ a break?” Granny guessed, offering a bottle of apple juice to the worn out earth pony. “Figured it was ‘bout time. Been out there fer hours now.”

“Hours?” Apple Bloom croaked. Was Ah really out there that long? She peered towards the sun, it just tickling the treetops. Apple Bloom took the offered drink and chugged it down, quenching a powerful thirst she didn’t even know she had. It was enough to allow her to sit up, which she did with a grunt. “Anypony still around?”

Granny nodded. “A few have gone home. Gale had ta practically ground one eager colt ‘fore he hurt himself,” she chuckled. “‘Bout time fer everypony to come in for a snack, though. You just sit a spell now, Apple Bloom. Ah’ll take care of it,” she promised, petting a hoof over her red mane and slipping off. Moments later, Apple Bloom heard the distinct ringing of the dinner bell, making her belly growl.

Peeking at the orchards, she saw more ponies emerging from the trees. Some looked exhausted. Others dirty. More still both, ponies and foals alike. Apple Bloom could hardly believe how many had stuck it out. All fer me, she thought, touched at the sight. Her eyes quivered just a bit before a twitch of pain shot up her back, making her clench her eyes shut and arch her back stiffly. “Augh! It even hurts to take a break now,” Apple Bloom groaned, holding a shaky leg over her eyes to blot out the sunlight. Even that proved a chore to the young mare. So much so she put it down, succumbing to the light, just in time to spy Colton standing before her.

“Well, you’ve certainly looked better,” Colton commented curtly, grinning down at Apple Bloom and taking a seat. He idly munched on an apple fritter.

Apple Bloom made a face. Not at the comment, but at Colton’s snack. “That store-bought?”

“Hey, it’s not like Granny had all day to make high quality snacks for two dozen hardworking ponies. Besides, could be worse,” he winked, tossing a couple wrapped fritters down to Apple Bloom. “Could be grapes.”

Apple Bloom forced out a pained giggle, doing her best to not morph it into a groan. “Yer right,” she said, straining as she stretched some more. “It could be worse.” She looked around, seeing most ponies chowing down on the cheap snack food, downing drinks, and chatting away. Apple Bloom struggled with the packaging on hers a moment, ripping it open with her teeth. By the time she was through her food, Colton and the others had finished theirs.

Apple Bloom swallowed her last bite. “Lookin’ like the herd’s thinnin’ out,” she remarked, seeing many of her classmates peeling away from the barn and headed back towards town. “Know how many are stayin’?”

“A few,” Colton answered, taking a swig from a bottle of juice. “Not too many outside your friends I think. Though Sweetie Belle’s only sticking around for moral support. Don’t think she’s in any shape to do more right now.”

“Oh no! Is she hurt?”

“No no, nothing like that. Think her head’s just too taxed out. Too much magic,” Colton explained, poking at his own forehead, which then turned into a brow-wipe. He then put the cool bottle up against his face. “She’s resting, but doesn’t want to go home. Said she wanted to stick it out.”

“Well good. That much she can do,” Apple Bloom sighed in relief. One less thing to fret over for her. “What about the others stickin’ around? All holdin’ up?”

“Yeah, I think so,” Colton said, pausing and wincing as he tenderly moved a hind hoof. “That reminds me. Think you’re on your own for applebucking from here on out, Apple Bloom. Don’t think my hooves can take any more punishment. And the fillies and colts just don’t have the hoof constitution us farmers have. And the pegasi and unicorns are down for the count too, far as wings and horns go.” He smiled. “Good news is that you won’t be hauling another bushel back yourself. There’re plenty to relay the remaining ones back.”

Apple Bloom considered, and nodded. “Yeah, don’t want nopony crackin’ their own hoof er sprainin’ a wing.” She smiled back at Colton, attempting to stand. “S-speaking of, Ah better get started again. We gotta hit more of the hilly parts now. Which means more walkin’ fer everypony. Stretchin’ the farm thin with the size of this order.” Apple Bloom glanced off over to the barn, where the massive pile of bushels sat. “Though we’re almost there, Colton… Almost. Ah can feel it.”

Colton tousled her mane. “That’s right, Apple Bloom. Light at the end of the tunnel. The home stretch. And other such idioms,” he trailed off, swirling a hoof in the air. With a grunt, he leaned down and gestured to his back. “Hop on. I’ll take you out there. Rest your hooves as much as you can. After that, we’ll get a relay team for bushels going. Sound like a plan?”

“Well I won’t turn down no free rides.” Apple Bloom pulled herself up onto Colton’s back and grappled onto his neck. “Onward, mah loyal steed!”

“Very funny,” Colton remarked as he set off. Apple Bloom told him where to go, the duo passing by many filled bushels that were still under their harvested trees. They cut a path through several fields, eventually ending up at the base of a hill, where fresh maroon Viking apples awaited them. “Here we are,” the stallion said, feeling pressure on his back as Apple Bloom leaped off and landed on all fours, looking as energetic as a pony could after working for so long.

“Alright. Ya’ know the way back, yeah?” After a confirming nod, she continued. “Good. Ah’ll start work out here while y’all fetch the bushels already picked. Then y’all can work yer way out here. Don’t matter what order really, s’long as they all get fetched. Hopefully it’ll only be a few more hours.”

“Good luck, Apple Bloom. We’ll check on you occasionally. Bring you some water too.” He winked. “After all, I just know you’re gonna sneak in a nap.” That got another laugh out of her, strained as it was.

“Go on, get outta here,” she ushered, shooing the stallion away. Once he was gone, Apple Bloom glanced about. It was a blurry trip back to earlier when she was disseminating the empty baskets out. And there they all were, still lying obediently on the ground. One comforting thought was that there were no more baskets to bring out from the barn. Once these were filled, she was done.

The initial enthusiasm dwindled as more and more baskets crept into view. Apple Bloom wasted no time worrying, however, getting right into the swing of things. “Home stretch, Apple Bloom. Home stretch.”





Her limbs shook. Her body agonized. Her head and neck fought to stay aloft. But Apple Bloom continued from one tree to the next, undeterred and unfaltered. She paused every once in a while, to catch her breath and lean against a tree, but she didn’t stay still long. Apple Bloom felt if she stopped for more than a moment that she’d succumb to exhaustion and fall asleep right then and there.

Apple Bloom caught glimpses of various ponies as they came to collect the fruits of her labor, bushel after bushel being ferried back to join the rest. The ponies would speak to her, giving her encouragement, each time they came around. Apple Bloom was too focused to reply, teeth clenched, muscles strained, eyes forward. They understood, Apple Bloom showing appreciation by smiling their way, however much it hurt to lift her head to do so.

The journey from one tree to the next was proving monumental. Apple Bloom’s legs continued to quiver, every heavy hoofstep sending small a small shock of pain upward. Each applebuck was a tidal wave. The young mare braced for the crests of agony flowing from hoof to snout with each blow to the bark. Her enervated body only served to multiply the sensations.

But Apple Bloom blocked it all out. The near-crippling pain. The heavy, draining weariness. The hunger that nothing could keep at bay. Her brow was furrowed and posture was set. Her neck slouched but her shoulders were square.

“Just one more tree,” Apple Bloom repeated for the hundredth time, dragging her aching form up to the next pair of empty baskets. “Ya’ got time, and yer close. One more tree…” Apple Bloom had stopped glancing skyward some time ago. Not only was the act of lifting her head a chore in and of itself, but she also feared how much time had passed. She could barely feel the sun on her back, Apple Bloom able to tell that the sun was setting. The orange tints of evening glow were all around her, even as her gaze remained affixed to her next target.

“Just… One… More… Tree...”

Normally, there wasn’t much feeling in a pony’s hoof. The hard substance it was comprised of contained no nerve endings of any sort. Apple Bloom swore that could feel every inch of her own with every fresh kick, however. They itched and tingled and stung and sweat as much as the rest of her, making the young mare all the more miserable.

“Keep it up, Apple Bloom. You got this!” She looked up with somewhat-blurry vision. Was she coaching herself again, or did somepony else say that? She shook her head to try and clear her vision up, focusing in on somepony gathering a bushel. She couldn’t tell who it was, and didn’t make an effort to try. Stifling a yawn she was sure would turn into a nap, Apple Bloom gave them the smallest of smiles, whoever it was, and trudged onward.

She continued to press on, eyes stinging from sweat. Apple Bloom wiped across her forehead again, nearly rubbed raw, brushing her mane from her vision. Something caught her eye above. The young mare struck another tree and looked upward before catching herself, apples tumbling down in her peripheral vision. A couple orange blurs had caught her eye, Apple Bloom just able to make out the sight of two pegasi flying her way. Behind them, the purplish evening sky was just starting to reveal a twinkling star or two. A sudden panic flashed through her heart.

“Almost done. Enough bushels er not, almost done…” Apple Bloom wrenched her eyes away from the sky and forced her legs to move again. It felt as if there were anchors strapped around each ankle. What felt like minutes later, she reared up again, and gave a swift kick. She let out an involuntary hiss of pain, the all-too-familiar shock flowing through her body. As was tradition for the young mare by now, she let the wave crest, flow over her, and recede, not letting the tide pull her in.

Something was off with the latest buck, though. Apple Bloom heard no apples plummet despite the accurate fierce kick delivered. Her ears pivoted around in search of the sound, before she craned her head upward to see what the deal was.

The Wayside apple tree was bare.

Apple Bloom blinked, then blinked again. She slowly, methodically checked out her surroundings. There weren’t baskets by this tree. Or the next. Or any as far as she could see. Save for the last bushel filled behind her, the ground and the trees were free of apples.

Apple Bloom had filled every basket.

“That’s… it?” she breathed, head on a swivel as she double- and triple-checked surrounding trees, all of which were bare. “Ah… Ah think that’s it…” She rubbed her eyes and squinted, just to make sure they weren’t playing tricks on her. “...That’s it! They’re all gone! Ah’m done!” Apple Bloom knew she shouldn’t get too excited, as it was entirely possible there wasn’t enough back at the barn, or that she missed some, or a dozen other possibilities, but she let herself go. She flopped on her back and kicked her sore legs out in all directions, laughing uproariously with energy she didn’t know she had. Her eyes clenched shut, a few tears of joy budding at their edges.

Amidst her jubilations, orange hooves thudded down on either side of Apple Bloom. She peeked her eyes open and spied Scootaloo and Gale Force staring down at her. Scootaloo quirked a brow. “Welp, she finally cracked.”

Gale poked Apple Bloom. “You alright?”

“Ah’m better than alright. Ah’m done!” Apple Bloom exclaimed, rolling and springing to her hooves. Which in turn made her crumple back to the ground in a heap. “Ow… Hurray…” she ended meekly.

Scootaloo and Gale joined Apple Bloom in her cheer, but were just as quick to settle down when their friend buckled. “Well it looks like there’s just one more basket to haul back,” Gale surmised. “Scootaloo, you want to take it? I’ll bring Apple Bloom.” He winked down at her. “Think you could use the lift.”

Apple Bloom didn’t object, barely feeling Gale hoisting her up onto his back, her legs dangling around his wings. Scootaloo got the bushel and grinned at Apple Bloom. Unable to contain her excitement, the young flier launched into the air with a whoop and sailed for the barn. Gale followed Scootaloo soon after, being more careful with his more precious cargo in tow.

Apple Bloom remained conscious despite her lassitude, wind whipping through her hair and euphoria coursing through her heart. She could barely move a muscle, not that she had any desire too, and let her mind and eyes wander.

The short flight felt like an eternity to Apple Bloom. Sunlight was but a sliver, just barely poking over the trees. One young tree in particular grabbed Apple Bloom’s weary attention, one that was very familiar to her. It took her tired mind a moment to recall, but when it did, her eyes lit up. Ah’ll make just one more trip, she resolved. The tree used to stand alone on the little hill, but years of orchard expansions meant more trees to plant, so it gained many neighbors over time. Even so, Apple Bloom was able spy the tree that she herself had planted all those years ago. It was one she paid regular visits to, both physically and in her dreams.

The tree vanished from sight as Gale tilted down for a landing. It was smooth, but to the Apple Bloom it was an earthquake. Once her head stopped rattling, she peered around to see who had stuck it out through the evening. Near the massive pile of bushels was Colton, chatting with Granny Smith. Winona, relieved of duty with others milling about the pile, snatched attention from the pair occasionally. Sweetie Belle was just stirring from a nap, propped up against the barn wall, while Scootaloo settled her ferried bushel by the pile. As far as Apple Bloom could tell, none of her other fellow schoolponies remained.

All the ponies still around looked up at Gale once he landed, the pegasus proclaiming loudly: “Hey everypony! She’s done!” A resounding cheer rose up from Sweet Apple Acres, everypony crowding around Apple Bloom and giving her hugs or pats on the back or, in Winona’s case, licks across her cheek. The young mare found herself sliding off Gale’s back, landing on four shaky legs and surrounded by family and friends.

“Sorry nopony else stayed to celebrate,” Gale mentioned, tousling Apple Bloom’s mane. “Cheerilee chauffeured them all home. Not that some didn’t want to stay of course, but it was way past suppertime. And you know better than anypony how grumpy one can get without supper,” he teased. Apple Bloom was too tired to be hungry despite the friendly provocation, only grinning up at him wearily.

Granny Smith lagged a bit behind the rest crowding around Apple Bloom. Her eyes locked with her granddaughter’s, and she gave a knowing smile and nod. As the last bushels were trickling in, Granny had counted and figured Apple Bloom was close. Confirmation from the field that the baskets were all used was all she needed to verify that the job was done.

Apple Bloom was about to speak up when her two fellow Crusaders squeezed in closer and threw themselves at her. Apple Bloom barely had the energy to move, so two other ponies barreling in sent her toppling as Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo piled on for a group hug. Each one talked over the other, lavishing Apple Bloom in praise, their hyperactive antics stirring Winona up into a barking fit.

“—can’t believe you did it—”

“—worked all night and kept going—”

“—could’ve done it without the help—”

“—there must be thousands—”

“Girls!” Apple Bloom giggled. She limply hugged her best friends. “Thanks, really… Couldn’t’ve done it without y’all but…” She wormed her way free from the others and stood tall. Winona settled down by her side, leading Apple Bloom to pet her as she spoke. “Ah’m not finished just yet.”

Sweetie Belle balked. “What? But I thought you were done?”

Scootaloo flared her wings. “You mean we missed some out there? Well don’t move, I’ll go and get whatever’s left!”

“Nah nah, we got ‘em all, don’t worry,” Apple Bloom smiled reassuringly. “This one’s more… symbolic, Ah think’s the way to put it.” She peeked past the farmland towards Ponyville and beyond. “Mmm… No sign of the wagons yet… Ah got time. Granny! We got any spare baskets?”

Granny Smith nodded. “Don’t think we’d ever run out, truth be told. Ah’m sure one of these strapping young lads will be more than happy ta fetch one from the cellar,” she answered, eying Colton and Gale. They both obliged, the giddy pair turning the simple task into a race. Granny rolled her eyes. “Boys,” she muttered, trotting to Apple Bloom and giving a much gentler hug. “Off to the hill, eh?”

Apple Bloom leaned into the hug. “How’d ya’ guess?” Gale and Colton returned in short order, the pegasus victor carrying his trophy and settling it on Apple Bloom’s back. She peeled away from Granny and the rest, walking into the orchard for one last trip.

Sweetie Belle tugged at Granny’s leg as Apple Bloom disappeared among the trees. “What hill are you talking about?” she asked. Scootaloo climbed up onto Gale’s back to peer after Apple Bloom, but she was out of sight. She, Colton and Gale all turned to Granny Smith.

Winona stretched and lay down by Granny, scoring more pets from family as Granny explained. “The hill where she planted her own tree, child.” She smiled warmly and took a seat. “Us Apples all got one somewhere out in the orchards. Sometimes, ‘specially after big occasions, we like ta visit ‘em. Oh sure, we plant lots of trees and tend to all of ‘em like our own flesh ‘n’ blood, but these trees aren’t just for makin’ apples. They’re special.”

“A special… tree?” Scootaloo interjected. She was going to go on but a glare from Gale put a stop to it. Granny picked up on the tone regardless, but wasn’t abashed.

“Ah know, bit silly an’ all. But what family tradition ain’t?”





The euphoric high from finally finishing only carried Apple Bloom so far. Her tree wasn’t terribly deep into the orchards, though that didn’t stop the short trek from feeling like a marathon. The empty basket on her sore back wobbled precariously with her gait, but managed to cling on. Her tail dragged along the grass, trailing behind a pair of worn, dirty, cracked, aching hind hooves. Apple Bloom felt the days’ wear and tear the worst on those back hooves and her hindlegs. The hooves looked the worst: They bore scratches and cracks and had small tufts of fur poking haphazardly out around them. But none bled, and none hurt to the point of debilitation. Striding against the pull of fatigue and pain, Apple Bloom pressed on. By the time the sun had been replaced by the moon, she laid eyes on her tree.

Legs filled with lead, the young mare approached at a snail’s pace. She seemed to require all of her focus to simply get one hoof forward, but appeared determined to reach her destination. And even in the darkness Apple Bloom could see the bright red apples gleaming off the branches. “Well girl,” she greeted the tree, settling the lone basket down beneath her branches, “here Ah am again. You would not believe the week Ah had.” She plucked a Red Delicious from a low-hanging branch and munched on it idly. “S’all done now, and Ah’ll be headin’ out to deliver the biggest order of mah life.” She finished off her snack and looked up, her tree’s apples swaying gently in the breeze. “Figured Ah’d bring some of yer kin along for the ride.”

For the final time, Apple Bloom about-faced and gave a swift buck to bark. Her tree was relatively young, so it yielded only one bushel, which Apple Bloom filled with a single stroke. She grunted, dragging the bushel onto her back once the deed was done, and wiped her brow. “See ya’ around, girl. Ah’ll stop by when I get back from the grove!”

The journey home was short and sweet, much of it being downhill. Apple Bloom looked forward to rest and to seeing some familiar familial faces. The moon was completely raised and nestled among the stars by the time she emerged from the orchards. Winona was the first to spot her. She raced up to Apple Bloom, barking merrily and bounding around her, catching everypony else’s attention. Apple Bloom slid her last bushel to the ground and took a seat by the collected fruit, basking in their scents and the praises from her friends and family alike.

Now seated and given an opportunity, Apple Bloom noticed she wasn’t the only one tired. Her fellow Crusaders were about to fall asleep standing up. Colton and Gale were no better off, wincing from aches while unsuccessfully stifling yawns. Only Granny Smith looked fair on her hooves, neither tired nor in hurting. The eldest Apple beamed with pride at the worn out ponies.

“So, y’all gonna head home then?” Apple Bloom asked after catching a contagious yawn. “It’s mighty late and y’all look like you can use a good amount of shuteye.”

Colton smiled and shook his head. “Think we’ll stick around to load the wagon up,” he answered. The rest nodded in agreement.

“Thank y’all,” Granny said, facing her granddaughter. “Now Apple Bloom: Yer not ta lift a single bushel, ya’ here? Instant Big Mac an’ Applejack show up, yer gettin’ packed in first and gettin’ some shuteye yerself. Ah’ll see these other ponies get their own. Don’t ya’ worry none.”

Apple Bloom nodded, once in agreement, then again in weariness. The mere mention of sleep set her off yawning again, loud and long. “Ah’m ready to sleep fer a month,” she mumbled with a giggle. Her laughter cut out when her ears flicked. She picked up the distinctive sound of wooden wheels creaking. Her head swiveled and spied past the trellis arch towards town.

The first thing Apple Bloom saw was her older brother. Stoic as ever, Big Macintosh was hooked to a harness and strolling along as if he wasn’t hauling a trail of wagons. As he got closer, the pony beside him rose over the hill and came into view. Applejack looked no worse for wear than Big Macintosh, a smile brimming as Sweet Apple Acres came into view.

Behind the pair of Apples was a lengthy train of wagons, bound together and wide enough to take over the whole road. They were plain and uncovered, making for easy loading and unloading. Apple Bloom could tell there were way more than the few she could see under the moonlit night, figuring there could be dozens. Her attention, however, was on the ponies pulling the wagons, the youngest Apple speeding off towards her siblings.

“Applejack! Big Mac!” she exclaimed, first galloping, then jogging, then limping over to the pair as they came to a stop just before the trellis arch. By the time she reached the duo, Apple Bloom was barely moving, panting from exertion, almost falling right into the two. Her siblings were quick to act, catching her and gathering her into a group hug, embracing tightly despite her profuse perspiration and appearance. It hurt, but Apple Bloom didn’t care, settling into the hug earnestly and beaming.

“Well howdy there, Sugarcube!” Applejack greeted as she and Big Macintosh undid themselves from the harnesses. “Ya’ look… Well... Alive...” She settled on that appraisal after giving her sister a good look over, trying to think of something more positive to say. “An’ freckles! Would ya’ look at that Big Mac? Our lil’ sis is lookin’ older… stronger…”

“Ya’ look dead on yer hooves,” Big Macintosh interrupted bluntly, encouraging Apple Bloom to lean against him. “And it’s plain ta see why.” He and Applejack glanced past her to see the bushels, harvested and ready to be delivered. “Lookin’ like we got our work cut out fer us.”

Apple Bloom did her best to stay on her hooves. Having her brother to lean on helped, keeping her from fainting sideways and passing out. “Never been so happy to see y’all,” she uttered wearily, big grin never leaving her face. “Yer letter… the order… s’all done… t’ain’t never thought Ah’d get anywhere close but…”

“But yer an Apple,” Applejack finished with a warm smile. “An’ we couldn’t be prouder for it. But Big Mac’s right. Yer ready for shuteye. Get up on in the front wagon here and leave everythin’ to us.”

Apple Bloom didn’t need to be told twice. She gave her siblings another weak hug, then trundled her way past the two and hoisted herself up into the front wagon. She heaved and grunted, tumbling into it and landing flat on her back. Unlike the line of cargo wagons behind, this one was covered. Designed for travel and rest, the whole floor comprised of a spread of cushions, blankets, and other creature comforts a traveling pony could want.

It was the most beautiful sight Apple Bloom had ever laid eyes on.

She didn’t remember rolling onto the spread and snagging a blanket; nor bundling up in its warm confines and covering herself from her blank flank up to her neck. At best she would vaguely recall grabbing a cushion and flopping her head down, cheek squishing into the soft fabric. Apple Bloom began to yawn, but couldn’t even finish that. The sounds of ponies outside, walking and talking, bushels being loaded up, the wagons creaking… It all grew distant as Apple Bloom plummeted into a deep, dreamless sleep. Her mouth hung open and her snores rang loud. Apple Bloom’s last thoughts dwindled on all the looks of accomplishment, joy, relief, and satisfaction friends and family alike gave her.

Ah made ‘em so proud.