Applejack saw herself in Sweet Apple Acres, her own home. Looking around, she saw all the apple trees full of sweet and ripe apples ready to be harvested. “I’m back at home! These apples look ready to be bucked!” Applejack rejoiced. “I gotta check on ma family to help me harvest these apples!” She ran off to the barn, expecting to see her family.
Once she pushed the doors open, she saw her family hanging a picture of a strange creature on the left barn wall. Confused, she came inside to discover what her family were up to. “Big Mac? Apple Bloom? Granny? Is everythin’ all right?” she asked.
“Nope!” Big Mac replied.
“Nope, there’s a dangerous creature in our field who is after our apples!” Apple Bloom said, writing the word “wanted” on the poster.
“A creature? What kind of creature are ya talkin’ about, sugarcube?” Applejack asked.
“A dastardly creature that comes from the darn ground is the Black Crawler! A nasty big feller!” Granny Smith said.
“Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed.
“The Black Crawler? I’ve never heard such a critter before!” said Applejack. “Well, if it is as dangerous as you say it is, than count me in! No creature messes with our farm!”
“That’s the spirit!” Granny Smith praised.
“Eeyup!” said Big Mac.
“Than what are we waitin’ for? Let’s get it!” Apple Bloom said, determinedly.
“Hold up, there! We must remember to report of that creature’s presence once any of us see it. Ya hear?” Granny ordered.
“Eeyup!” the rest said at the same time.
Armed with shovels, racks, and ropes, they separated from each other outside the barn as they began their search for the Black Crawler. Big Mac and Apple Bloom went to the west side of the field, Granny Smith and their work dog Winona went to the east side, and Applejack went to the north side.
Applejack was searching every tree and checking every rock she came across. “Black Crawler’s gotta be here somewhere...can’t leave no stone unturned...well, literally.” she chuckled.
Suddenly, she heard a twig break. She looked around to see if the creature was around; she saw nothing within her view. She continued to look around other trees until a second twig loudly broke. She jerked her head up and fidgeted to a fighting stance. “W-Who goes there?!” she demanded, sweating nervously. Remembering what Granny Smith said about the creature’s size, she tried to not allow fear to lower her guard.
“Applejack, I presume?” a raspy voice asked. Applejack swiftly turned her head to see the Black Crawler about 22ft tall, had skinny arms and legs, sharp claws, a body made completely of both soil, wood, and rock, a large vine wrapped around his torso, a tree branch sticking out from his head, red eyes, and a carnivorous mouth.
Applejack beheld him with astonished eyes. “H-How did ya know ma name?!” she asked. “And you can talk too?!”
“Of course, I can. I’ve heard of you and your friends, Applejack. I also heard that you and your family are going to hunt me down.” Black Crawler said.
“Yes, we are! Ah was told you were out here to get our apples!” Applejack said.
“Of course I am! I need apples to survive! Please, Applejack...” he said, getting on his knees before the farm pony. “I’m the only one left of my kind; without apples, I won’t be able to live. Please don’t tell your family I was here. If you can let me take perhaps half of your apple trees without your family knowing, I’ll be able to live for another few months. Please...keep this as a secret...” he started to cry.
Applejack looked conflicted in what to do next. “I can’t lie to ma family! If I don’t tell them, he’ll take half of our apples and might even take more! How can I trust him?” Applejack thought. “But if ah tell ‘em, he won’t ever come back! But then...he will die...of starvation.”
“How do I know you’re being honest?” she asked suspiciously.
“Believe me...I tell you the truth. Look at my arms and legs—they’re malnourished.” Crawler said.
“Applejack! Have ya seen that creature yet?” Apple Bloom called out. Applejack saw her and Big Mac coming from afar. Black Crawler immediately dived into the soil and hid underground.
“Well...I uh...” Applejack stuttered. At that moment, Granny Smith and Winona rejoined them in the middle of the field.
“Ah know ah heard somethin’, so you must’ve seen it, right?” Granny asked.
Applejack then struggled to decide as to whether she tells the truth or cover for the Black Crawler by lying. Right there, she remembered that honesty was what helps improve relationships and especially friendships. Even if the truth would hurt, depending on the situation, it is never the best idea to lie to protect or hide any secret. She tried not to recall what Discord said to her during his chaotic terrorism in Ponyville years ago.
Then she made her call. “(Sigh) Yes, I’ve seen him; in fact, I just talked to him moments ago. Black Crawler is suffering near starvation due to lack of apples, and he is the last of his kind. All that he asks is half of our apples so that he could live longer. Can we at least be open to him?” Applejack explained.
Her family looked at each other somewhat surprised and uncertain. Crawler dug out of the ground and stood next to Applejack. Seeing a sincere look on his face and his malnourished condition, they smiled with each other and nodded to him. Crawler then began to sob again with gratitude; he knelt down to her level saying, “I didn’t expect you to be that honest, Applejack. Thank you for your compassion and being honest with your family.”
“Any time, big fella. Come on, now! Those apples can’t wait any longer!” Applejack smiled. Nodding, Black Crawler went to the trees and got what he needed. After he ate half of the apples, his arms and legs grew muscular with better health and strength.
Applejack was then taken back to reality, and she opened the door to reunite with her waiting friends. Nightmare was again irritated and angrily pounded on the table she was at for her royal meal. “WHAT DOES IT TAKE FOR YOU PONIES TO BE DESTROYED?!? Rarity, please be generous enough to end your worthless friends’ misery!!!” she wrathfully bellowed.
“My goodness! Somepony needs serious anger management!” Rarity huffed.