Big Mac looked down at his sister; her face soft and kind.
"Applejack, what're ya doin'?" he asked, sounding kind, yet stern.
"We're just playin' some... uh, what's it called again?" she asked the stallions.
"Football." they replied quietly.
"Yeah, football." smiled Applejack. Big Mac stared at the stallions, making them feel uneasy and uncomfortable.
They looked up at him, eyes wide and lips tight. They didn't move other than to share the occasional glance. They didn't seem as menacing as he'd originally thought. He looked back to Applejack who was smiling happily, with one eyebrow raised. The orange mare peeked back at her two friends and smiled, calming them and causing them to smile back.
Big Mac sighed and let a small smile form on his lips. He bent down and hugged Applejack slightly.
"Uh, Big Macintosh? You okay buddy?" chuckled the mare.
"Yeah Applejack, sorry for marchin' over here." he said gently.
"No problem big brother, we should probably go in now anyway," suggested Applejack, "we all need a good wash and a rest." Everypony nodded in response to Applejack and started trudging towards the farm house.
Big Mac walked behind them. He realized that he'd been way too over the top this time. He wanted his sister to be safe, but still happy. He glanced at her and the stallions; she had Gavin in a headlock while they walked. He was making the strangest sounds whilst Dan was barely able to move with his laughter. He let out a quiet chuckle and shook his head. To be honest he didn't even know why he was worried. He'd never seen Applejack that close up with any stallions before, that was probably why.
.............
Dan woke up once again, the light from the bright sun seeping through the cracks in the old wooden barn. He groaned slightly as he lazily lifted his head to look around. One eye was half open allowing him to see his friend, still asleep on the hay. He realized that it must still be too early to wake up, so he let his head drop back down onto his make do bed. He'd started to get used to the hay, his nights were getting better and better. He snuggled his head into the hay; a smile crossing his face.
As Gavin started to wake up he yawned slightly. He was quite good in the mornings, unlike Dan. When he was up, he was up. When he was asleep he was asleep. No middle ground. He sat up and stretched his forelegs with a yawn. Dan, being disturbed by Gavin's yawn, moaned angrily, wanting to get back to sleep.
"Mornin' Dan!" greeted Gavin happily, getting some low grumbles in return.
The pegasus was used to getting up early on the farm, so he slowly stumbled to his hooves and stretched out his wings.
"Get up my unicorn friend." chuckled Gavin, walking over to the sleeping stallion.
"Gavin no." grunted Dan.
"Come on B."
"Gavin no please."
"You know what's coming..."
"Gavin no!" Dan yelled this time. Gavin then jumped into his friend, making him yelp loudly.
"Weeee!" cheered Gavin playfully, as he jumped up.
Dan slowly stood up, glaring at his 'friend' angrily.
"Why you gotta wake me up?!" asked Dan sadly.
"We have to go to the hospital soon, they're meant to let the ladies out today right?" questioned Gavin.
"I think so..." replied Dan, stretching out his limbs. Gavin nodded with a happy smile.
"Tippedy top, let's go!" he chuckled pulling the barn doors wide open.
Dan shielded his eyes from the bright sun as it flooded the barn.
"Gavin! No warning!" yelled the unicorn, falling onto this back. Gavin laughed lightly, trotting over to his friend.
"What're you doing B? Get up!" giggled Gavin, pulling Dan up. He smiled at his friend and started walking forward towards the door.
Applejack left the farmhouse after finishing her breakfast, seeing Gavin beaming at her from across the yard.
"Good mornin' Gav." she greeted with a wide smile.
"Ello AJ!" he returned happily.
"Good morning." mumbled Dan tiredly. Gavin and Dan turned around to face the gate, setting off when Applejack reached them.
It was a lovely sunny morning, but there were lots of clouds on the horizon and weather ponies working tirelessly to move them over.
"Why do they do that?" asked Gavin as they walked along the path, surrounded by apple trees.
"Well, somepony needs to control the weather," she answered, "and it's a great job for a pegasus."
"They get paid?" questioned Gavin.
"Yeah, everypony needs to make bits somehow."
Gavin watched the weather ponies closely, flying seemed effortless to them. It still took a lot of thought for him. His train of thought was broken by Dan.
"Are Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Twilight leaving the hospital today then?" he asked with a smile.
"Yep, the doctor said they were fine." replied Applejack happily.
"Great!" cheered Dan.
"We're meetin' the others at the crater." she chuckled.
"What about Long Shot?" asked Gavin.
"Ah dunno," Applejack shrugged, "Ah sure hope he's ok though".
"Me too." agreed Gavin, feeling slightly guilty.
They trotted on to the crater, pretty much silent; all of them allowing the warm sun to wake them up fully and make them feel happy. When they arrived, Pinkie Pie was seated in the centre of the crater making explosion noises.
"Erm, Pinkie?" greeted Applejack with a little giggle. The pink mare's head snapped up and her eyes fixed on the three ponies. Her face lit up and a wide smile spread across her face.
"Good morning everypony!" she greeted excitedly, "The sun is up and I'm feeling fine!"
"Morning Pinkie." Gavin and Dan chuckled together.
Pinkie bounced over to them and sat on a grassy patch. She patted her hoof on the ground around her, motioning for the others to join her sitting down. They complied and lowered their bodies onto the warm earth.
"So... how is everypony doing?" asked Applejack after a short awkward silence.
"Pretty good," replied Dan with a smile, he then looked at Gavin and frowned, "but my hoof still hurts from that glass." he chuckled.
"You shoulda legged it faster then, Dan." laughed Gavin in response as he slugged him in the shoulder.