//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Apple Family Reunion // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// The sun rose over Canterlot, and with it came the start of the first day of the school holidays. This meant, for most people, the start of trips overseas, or alternatively an opportunity to do whatever they had planned at home, whether that be seeing friends, going on day trips, or just chilling out. Chilling in the literal sense, as most people chose to go where there was air conditioning, and admittedly in Canterlot you were not short of places with air conditioning. Given how wildly the weather varied in the city across the year, it took considerable hardiness to endure there year-round, but somehow the townsfolk managed, helped along by air conditioning, heating, and suitable clothing for the weather conditions (though not all necessarily in that order). The Summer Dance had gone down a storm, with the students coming together for the last time that year to simply have fun together. It was truly great to see so many people together having a blast and partying (responsibly, of course, this being a school), although there were some sad eyes upon the presentation. As must be the case with all schools, some students were moving on that year, and Principal Celestia gave a speech at the event, thanking them for their time at Canterlot High School and wishing them luck for the future. Amongst those students was Big Mac, marking the end of his fourteen-year career at CHS. It will surprise nobody to hear that many were sad for him to go, not least his friendly smile and calm, gentle nature, but also his superb singing voice. It would be hard work to find a bass good enough to replace him, such was the quality and tenor of his voice- “Ah’m a bass, Mr Narrator. Please don’t contradict yerself.” Big MacIntosh, I do apologise. Just let me know if you run into Pickersgill, OK? I shall now resume the story. Another sad fact had occurred to those assembled at the Summer Dance that night, that the next year would be the first in a long time that only two members of the Apple family were active students at the school; Applejack, and Apple Bloom, although Granny Smith had no intention of retiring as the school cook. Strictly, she didn’t need to work as the money her son, Bright Mac, brought in from his city job was more than enough, so she mainly did it in order to give her something to do. Anyway, the outgoing students had been given three cheers by the assembled student body, and there was not a dry eye in the place. Others had done well that day as well. Only that morning, Misty Fly had been formally re-admitted into the Wonderbolts soccer team, which was a significant moment as it allowed the team to put the dark stain of their past at Christmas behind them. It also allowed for Misty Fly to reconcile with not only her team mates, who had regarded her with an air of hostility (although, on reflection, that may prove to be an understatement) for attacking Scootaloo, but her own past. However, upon seeing the air of regret surrounding her, they forgave her, but it took a while. She will hopefully be playing in the next game the team has, which is next Saturday if you want to consult your diaries. But this is all digression, for our important tale is elsewhere. All the way over where this very story series began, at the farm, or should I say orchard, of Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom and her friends had gathered for what they suspected would be the last time in a while. At the moment we enter this pastoral scene, Apple Bloom was telling her friends all about a place in the east of the country. "An' so, the discovery of large amounts of lumber in the hills of West Virginia led to the foundation of the Virginia Pulp an' Paper Company. They set up at the bottom of nearby Cheat Mountain, buildin' a large sawmill at the base of the hill." "What happened next?" Cozy Glow asked, her eyes aglow (aptly enough). Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle, however, were prett familiar with the story, and as a result simply rolled their eyes. "Well, the lumber firm needed a place fer the workers ta live, and so started buildin' a company town. Somebody had the bright idea of namin' it after the President-" "Vice President," Scootaloo corrected. "Ok, OK!" Apple Bloom exclaimed. "Somebody had the bright idea of namin' it after the Vice President of the Virginia Pulp an' Paper Company, Joseph Kerr Cass. It were incorporated as a town in 1900, and the railroad started operations not long after. This line made extensive use of geared locomotives, not disimilar ta the one mah cousin Babs drove back at Christmas ta delivier that Christmas tree we had ordered." "I don't think Sunset will be forgetting that one!" Sweetie Belle chimed in, remembering the more positive side of that Christmas. Scootaloo, on the other hand, started subconsciously rubbing her gut. Apple Bloom didn't notice this, and continued. "The loggin' operation employed hundreds o' people, until the loggin' operation stopped in 1960, due to a lack of wood. An' the town was left to rot." "What happened next?" Cozy Glow asked. Apple Bloom launched into the next portion of the story with gusto. "The state of West Virginia bought the town and railroad, in order ta preserve the industrial heritage of the state of West Virginia, not to mention provide tourism for the state, which is always a good thin'. The lumber workers found themselves State employees, and the place is still run ta this day as a state run system." "Why are you telling us this?" Scootaloo asked, impatiently. "Because," Apple Bloom replied, a glint of cheerfulness in her eyes, "mah family, or at least the Apple side of it, is from Cass. There's an Apple in the records of each year of the lumber mill's operation, and Pa operated on the railroad side o' things back in the 1990s, before he moved out here. The old house where they lived is still there, and we'll be stayin' there this summer!" "Is this for this reunion you've mentioned?" Sweetie Belle asked again, somewhat less impatiently than Scootaloo had, who truth be told had been told the tale many times before. "Yep!" Apple Bloom exclaimed, a smile on her face. "Apples, Pears, Oranges, loadsa relatives Ah've never met, alla them will be descendin' on Cass soon for our reunion... the Apple Family Reunion." Just then, a shout came from upstairs. "Apple Bloom! Can ya come pack please?" "Comin' pa!" Apple Bloom called, as she looked back to her friends. "Gotta dash! See ya!" and she ran upstairs as fast as her legs would carry her. Cozy Glow got up. "I wish we were going. It sounds fun." "We're not apples, are we?" Scootaloo asked rhetorically. "It still sounds fun," Sweetie Belle said, as they stepped out of the door and off into town, where they would not see Apple Bloom for a while, at least.