"So d'ya think we'll catch him this time?" Apple Bloom panted, as she sprinted ahead of her sister on their seemingly endless mission to capture The Great Seedling.
"As long as this weren't another of Big Mac's sleepwalking shenanigans..." Applejack humphed, as she attempted with difficulty to keep pace with her rambunctious sibling. "Honestly, what are the chances we'd catch him stumbling 'round at night in his pyjamas all covered in branches, lookin' just like what we were after? It were a little too convenient, I tell you what!"
"Perhaps you better give him some time off..." Apple Bloom stopped focusing on their quarry long enough to ponder her brother's situation. "You have sorta been workin' him to the bone of late while you, Twilight an' the others have been gallopin' all over Equestria, solvin' the world's problems. I'm not sayin' that's a bad thing, but it does kinda leave Big Mac with most of the hard graft 'round here."
"Hmm... I guess so. An' as much as dear old Granny Smith might deny it, she ain't getting any younger." Applejack was careful not to critique her elder relation's age in front of her, especially near the much-anticipated date of the Golden Horseshoes Gals annual outing. "Me bein' a part-time teacher probably ain't helping much neither. I hate to ask this of you sugarcube, but d'ya think you could pick up the slack a bit for them from now on? I understand you're still a filly, but if I didn't think you weren't up to it, I wouldn't be askin'."
"Sure thing!" Apple Bloom grinned in appreciation of her big sister's praise, before her ears drooped a little. "After all, it ain't like I see much of Sweetie and Scoots much now anyways, 'cept in class. It's hard to find ponies who don't get what their cutie marks mean nowadays. I can't help but be thinkin' we did our job so well, we've kinda saturated the market."
"Aww, don't you be a worrying now, sweetheart!" Applejack paused her steady pursuit long enough to gently lift Apple Bloom's chin and stare at her with sincerity. "Things'll pick up again soon, you just wait! As long as there are ponies in Ponyville, they'll be colts and fillies just itchin' to discover their special talent! There may be a slight lull for now, but I guarantee before long you'll be so festooned with requests from all an' sundry, you'll wish you'd made the most of these quieter days!"
"Actually I don't reckon I will, 'cos I'm already doin' what I love more than anythin' ever... spending time with my big sis!" Apple Bloom returned the compliment by hugging Applejack's neck lovingly. "I jus' don't wanna be endin' up livin' alone one day, in a far-off shack with a whole herd of cats. I mean, it's okay for some ponies, but..."
"It's okay Apple Bloom, I know what you're gettin' at." Applejack gave the farm filly a friendly wink to inform her she wasn't offended at all. "That's just how Goldie Delicious chooses to live, an' we should respect that. It don't mean all of us have to like it, 'specially when those that have been lettin' her stay have to clean up a whole mess of furballs and cat litter when said dear relation has vamoosed back to the hills. I'll be countin' on you later to help me, by the way."
"Yes, Applejack..." Apple Bloom rolled her eyes with a sigh at yet more work being added on to her ever-growing itinerary. "...As long as I'm on cat hair duty, an' you handle the stinky stuff. I'm thinkin' that's a fair compromise, don't you?"
"Why, you little..." Applejack spoke in mock anger, before bursting out into laugher. "Fair enough, I reckon. An' I'll try to be 'round as often as I can to help run the farm, even though I have a thousand and one other things on my plate right now. Remember though, whatever happens in the future: you, Big Mac, Granny Smith and Winona are always my first priority. So if you've got a problem, no matter whatever the time of the day or night, you come a callin' an' I'll be there quicker than a greased hog in a nest full o' hungry dragons!"
"Say wut... You know, never mind." Apple Bloom adored her older sibling more than anything, but may pears full from apple trees if she didn't confuse her sometimes with her inscrutable country-isms. "Thanks sis, I feel tons better now. But d'ya know what would make me feel even better?"
"No, what?" Applejack removed her stetson to scratch her head. After all, what could be more inspiring than her heartfelt motivational words?
"Catching The Great Seedling of course, dummy! An' I think I jus' spotted a big clue dead ahead!" Apple Bloom suddenly reminded Applejack of their original quest, before pointing at an intriguing phenomenon close by. "Look! Patterns of carrots on the ground! Just like back at the farm!"
Applejack swiftly screeched to a halt at the same time as Apple Bloom, and both stared down with curiosity at the elaborate arrangement of vegetables on the grass. This time there were many more of them, all lined up under an isolated copse where both Apples now stood in earnest.
"D'ya think... it really could be him?" Apple Bloom whispered, as if the legendary spirit might be eavesdropping in on their conversation.
"After the way the last few days have gone, I ain't predictin' nothin'." Applejack shrugged her shoulders, but she seemed as excited as her younger sister. "There's only one way to find out, though. C'mon, let's find somewhere good to hide..."
Completely out of the blue however, all their best laid plans went up in the air... and so did they. A momentary sensation of strong fabric under their hooves was the only foreshadowing they got, as a large net covered by leaves unexpectedly enmeshed both Apples from a branch. They were left dangling haplessly from a treetop side-to-side, as a small mischievous figure slipped inexorably into view.
"H-Huh? Who is that?" Apple Bloom strained her eyes from her precarious vantage point, unable to quite believe The Great Seedling was this tiny.
"Long ears, hoppity legs, evil leer... why that can only be, Angel Bunny!!" Applejack remarked in amazement, whilst feeling the blood rush to her head.
Seemingly unconcerned with the plight of the two nearby ponies suspended from a great height, the cotton-tailed rascal sauntered over to nibble nonchalantly on one of the many carrots he'd left out overnight.
It had been such a huge sacrifice, saving up a weeks worth of food to entrap these gullible fools. But it was worth it. Oh, how it was worth it! Now he could sit back and enjoy the show, whilst helping himself to a veritable cornucopia of carrots. What a feast! Yum.
"I-I guess there is no Great Seedling after all then, jus' the Great Scoundrel!" Apple Bloom struggled in vain to free herself, only to realise the long drop probably wouldn't make that such a good idea. "He must've seen us settin' up all those traps each evenin', an' come up with a scheme of his own to land us in hot water."
"I keep tellin' Fluttershy, that wretched rabbit needs behavioural therapy pronto. D'ya hear me, Angel? I swear, I'll be havin' frank words with your owner, when all this is over! An' I hope you get a tummy ache!" Applejack scowled down at the treacherous creature, who just carried on nibbling his stash unconcerned. "In the meantime, I have a plan to get us outta this, if you wanna follow my lead."
"What, already?" Apple Bloom stopped fidgeting temporarily to glance at her sister in surprise. "Are ya sure it'll work?"
"Not one-hundred percent, but it's better than swingin' here like a pair of slippery sloths." Applejack remarked honestly, as you'd expect of her. "Ain't nothing fancy, but it could do the trick. All ya have to is purse your lips like this, that's it... take a deep breath, you're gettin' it!... now hoot an' holler at the top of your voice, til' either help arrives, or..."
"...Or?" An inquisitive Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow.
" 'Or' we lose our voices, but I'm pretty sure it won't come to that. I hope not, anyways...." Applejack silently added, before guiding her sister into the countdown. "Ready? 1...2...3..."
HELP!!