//------------------------------//
// Awakening, Part 2 
// Story: Extremely Loud, Intensely Bright, Drastically Tense, Exceedingly Tight 
// by h4ns 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 2: Awakening, Part 2

Applejack sat on a beach towel under an umbrella, laid back, enjoying a glass of hard cider. With the harvest season over again for another year she had time to allow her body to recover from the daily repetition of apple bucking and the other chores that seemed to produce on their own. It was made better that she was not only able to enjoy this with her elder brother and younger sister, but also with Granny Smith. This was the time of year that Applejack enjoyed the most. Just the feeling of being able to spend time with those she loved. 

This was all shattered by an unbearable barking.

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Applejack awoke to find her Border Collie jumping on top of her all the while barking her heart out, "Quiet down Winona, Ah'm up. Just quit your hollering."

Winona complied and jumped down off of Applejack's bed and sat on her hunches, waiting for her master to do so herself. 

Rising up, the farm mare looked out of her bedroom window to see little inklings of sunlight begin to come over the horizon. After rubbing the last bit of sleep out of her eyes with her hooves, Applejack threw back the covers and stepped out of her bed. "Whelp Winona looks like it's gonna another long day, we'd better get to it." 

After donning her Stetson she exited her bedroom and headed towards the bathroom to prepare herself for the day ahead. Winona ran downstairs Along the way Applejack saw the door to Granny Smith's room was ajar. Almost 65 years old and she still rises earlier than anypony else. How does she do it? She thought as she continued down the hall. Entering the bathroom she could smell Granny Smith's cooking downstairs.

After locking the bathroom door she immediately began her ordinary morning routine. Running water into the sink she grabbed a washcloth and rubbed the last of the sleep out of her green eyes. Turning off the water Applejack next brushed her teeth, being careful that she grabbed her own toothbrush. Just as she was finishing she jumped when a knock came at the door. 

"Applejack, are you in there." It was Big McIntosh, Applejack's older brother. 

"Yeah, Ah'm in here Big Mac. Ah'll be out in a second."

About a minute later Applejack finally opened the bathdoor to see her older brother standing there waiting. "Whelp it's all yours Big Mac," she said as she walked by her much larger brother.

"Eeyep."

Walking don the hall Applejack turned back just before Big Mac closed the door. "Hey, Big Mac, have ya gotten Applebloom up yet?"

Turning back he simply responded, "Eenope."

"Ya think she's still upset bout yesterday?"

Pondering for a second Big Mac responded, "Eeyep."

"Well Ah'll get...somehow," the last part she said under her breath.

Continuing down the hallway Applejack stopped in front of her little sister's bedroom door. As she knocked on the door she said, "Applebloom it's time to get up." When there was no answer she knocked again with greater force.

When there was still no answer Applejack pushed the door open to see the back of her sister's red mane and pink bow. "Applebloom come on and get up, you can't stay in bed all day."

"Just leave me alone," was all she said back.

"Applebloom Ah know you're upset about yesterday, and Ah know your wantin ta help, but you're just not old enough or big enough ta be doing any kinduh hard farm labor yet." 

Sitting down on her back legs Applejack continued to try and think of a way to persuade her younger sibling out of bed. "Applebloom I know we haven't been able ta spend much time with yuh...but Big Mac and Ah need ta work most every day startin early in the morning till late at night sometimes."

At that Applebloom rolled around in her bed so she could look at her older sister, "Ah...Ah know it's just there's nothing ta do around here," she said in almost a whisper. "When you're not here Ah'm left with Granny Smith. Ah love her Applejack, Ah do, but there's nothin ta do when she falls asleep for hours on end."

Letting out a sigh Applejack replied, "Ah know there isn't much for you ta do round here at your age, but this is a big farm and your just a little filly, yuh don't have the strength yet ta be apple bucking or even ta lift a full bushel of apples."

"Ah...Ah know but Ah at least wanna get away from the house every once in uh while."

This made the apple mare waver, "Ah don't have ta time ta be watchin yuh, and Ah don't feel comfortable with yuh going outside the house on yuh own. Ah doubt you'd even be able to find your way back ta the house if were in the orchard."

Applebloom began to tear up as she pulled the bedcovers over her head.

"Applebloom...," Applejack cried out, "come on now...yuh aren't gonna stay cooped up in your room all day."

The little filly could only let out a sniffle.

"Applebloom..."

This time she made no sound.

After about another minute Applejack stood and made her way for the door, "Well fine be that way then it still doesn't change how Ah feel." Exiting the room and shutting the door Applejack made her way down to the dining room. When she got there she saw the table already set for breakfast. Her brother, grandmother, and Winona were there as well waiting for the remaining family members to join in.

When Applejack situated herself opposite her brother she announced, "Whelp let's dig in everypony, Applebloom's not coming down." 

To this Granny Smith asked, "Is she still upset about what happened last night?"

"Yes'm," was all Applejack could say, she herself visibly upset by her younger sibling's absence.

"Did she say anything different?"

"No, she's still wantin ta get outta the house some."

"What did yuh say ta her?"

"Ah told her that Big Mac and Ah can't take the time off ta spend time with her, there's just too much ta do right now."

"Well she is just a filly now dear she needs ta get outside sometimes too. It ain't good her a pony her age ta be sittin inside cooped up with somepony my age." 

"Ah know Granny but who's gonna watch her?"

Granny Smith answered, "Why doncha let her go along with yuh while you're apple bucking today dear?"

"Uh beg pardon?"

"Just let her go along with yuh and let her see what yuh have ta do each day."

"But she's not old nough yet for apple bucking."

"Ah didn't say she'd have ta do any, just show her how it's done so she can do it when she is grown. If anything she could help pick up any apples that miss the baskets or fall outta the wagon."

"Well yuh do have a point...but what if she gets disintrested of it, then what?"

"Yuh can take Winona with yuh both to keep her company while yuh work."

"That could work, and Winona could help warn me if anything happens." Turning to her brother she asked, "What do yuh think about it Big Mac?"

Thinking it over himself, the large stallion replied with a, "Eeyep."

"OK, if y'all are both OK with it Ah guess Ah can do that...but only if she'll stay close."

"Well go on and tell her, she'll need her energy ta get through the day."

"Uh right, Ah'll go and get her right now. Y'all just go on and start eatin."

Standing up from the table Applejack quickly made her way back upstairs. When she reached Applebloom's door she began to knock lightly. "Hey, Applebloom, are yuh in still there."

A few seconds later she heard a small voice reply, "N...no."

When there was no further answer Applejack opened the door to see her little sister still in the same position she had been left in, the bedcovers still over her head. Sitting at the side of Applebloom's bed again she announced, "Applebloom come on and get up."

"Ah don't wanna."

"Sugar cube...Ah know Ah was hard on yuh, and Ah know you're gonna wanna get up."

"Wh...why?"

"Cause Granny convinced me to let yuh come along with me today around the farm while Ah work."

Hearing this Applebloom poked her head out from under the covers enough to reveal her eyes, showing a trail of tears still streaming from her orange irises. "Re...really? Yuh mean it?"

"Yeah, Ah mean it."

Applebloom's ears perked up, "Yo...you're being honest, no jokin?"

Lifting a hoof to wipe a tear from her sister's eyes she responded, "Yeah I'm honest...no joking."

The little filly, who could do nothing but sulk a second ago, threw the bed sheets off herself and immediately began to jump on her bed all the while smiling as if it were Hearth's Warming Eve. When she was done jumping on the bed she landed on the floor and hugged the leg of a now dumbfounded Applejack, "Oh thank yuh, thank yuh, thank yuh Applejack. What are we gonna do first? Apple bucking the orchard?"

"Now Applebloom."

"Oh Ah know we're gonna search the farm for timber wolves?"

"Applebloom."

"No, no wait we're gonna...?"

Stomping her free hoof down the elder sister shouted, "APPLEBLOOM!!!"

Shocked at this outburst Applebloom released her sisters leg. After a few seconds Applejack broke the silence, "Ah didn't say we were gonna do anything like that. You're still a little filly, there's no getting around that. I said you could come with me while Ah worked."

At that Applebloom's ears drooped and she looked at the floor.

"Now come on Applebloom don't be that way. It's better than being kept in the house all day...isn't it?"

"Well...yeah."

"So what's the problem?"

"Ah at last wanted to do something ta help."

"Like Ah said before Ah know yuh want ta help, but you're still too little for hard work. Now if yuh want ta help you can pick up any apples that miss the baskets or you can watch me apple buck and learn how ta do it for when you're old enough."

Thanking over what her sister had said the little filly's spirits were somewhat elevated, "Well Ah guess Ah can do that."

"See it's not gonna be so bad. But yuh have ta promise me one thing."

"Wha...what is it?"

"That yuh promise ta stay where Ah can see yuh."

Wanting more than anything then to get out of the house Applebloom simply said, "OK."

Applejack wasn't convinced, "Ah don't want ta being running around looking for yuh. It's dangerous out there in the orchard and if something were ta happen to yuh Ah'd never be able ta forgive myself."

"OK, Ah promise."

Applejack still wasn't convinced"Now Ah mean it Applebloom if Ah even see yuh out of sight and have ta holler ta find yuh then you're not ta set a hoof inta the orchard again until you're old enough. Got it!?"

":AJ Ah promise. Ah promise Ah'll stay where yuh can see me."

Not wanting to upset her sister again she gave in, "OK. But Ah warned yuh." Giving her little sister a big hug she said, "Now Ah want yuh ta go and get ready. Then come down and eat as much as yuh can cause we're gonna be out in the orchard for a long time today."

Upon being released from her sister's grasp Applebloom rushed to do as she was told. 

Lingering outside her sister's room for a few seconds she sighed and thought out loud, "For Celestia's sake Ah hope she's tellin me the truth."