Applejack was lying on one of the hotel beds, with a thoughtful expression on her face. After Sturdy had escorted her back, Granny Smith nearly crushed her with an 'I'm-so-glad-you-made-it-back-safe-I-was-so-worried' hug, and then she took the supplies and went about making dinner, While Applejack recovered from the bear-hug and thought about what Sturdy Hoof had said.
"It's an apple tree."
Applejack thought back to her family reunion, but she couldn't remember anypony with the cutie mark of an apple tree. Was it possible some part of the family hadn't made it? But Granny Smith had said everypony in the Apple family was there. So who was this pony, then?
"All right, Applejack, come and get it! Soup's on!" A.J. responded by getting up off the bed and walking to the table, and sat in one of the chairs. She decided she would ask Granny over dinner abut this Apple pony, perhaps she would know. As they ate there dinner of apple nut salad and boiled potatoes, A.J. opened her mouth to speak, but what she heard was not her own voice.
"Now, I hope you'll explain why that took longer than it should have", Granny Smith asked, but A.J. could tell there was a commanding tone in the voice.
"Well, I kind of bumped into somepony..." 'quite literally, in fact', A.J. thought that last part to herself.
"Oh? Was it somepony we know?"
"That's just it! I'm not quite sure... Granny! You said that every Apple made it to the last family reunion, right? Well, was there somepony with an apple tree cutie mark there?"
"Hmm... don't think so! Why, was that this pony's cutie mark?"
"Well, I didn't see it myself, but that's what Sturdy told me, and I think they knew each other, because Sturdy called him by a nickname: Buck."
"What was his name?"
"oh... uh, well, I didn't get it. I did ask, but there were a lot of interruptions, and not enough time. And I guess I was so shocked about his cutie mark, I forgot to ask Sturdy his name," A.J replied sheepishly.
"Well, Applejack, I can't tell you much, except that I don't think there's a pony in the family with an apple tree cutie mark. He's probably part of a different Apple family- we're not the only one, after all! At least, I don't think so..." Granny trailed off, and Applejack thought about this.
'Another Apple family? Well, I suppose it's possible...'
"Ah, well, it's fine! I probably won't see him again, anyways. No use worrying about little things you can't do anything about!" Applejack exclaimed.
"Exactly! Now, let's eat!"
After they had finished their dinner, A.J. and Granny decided to pass the time by playing cards together, while the storm raged outside.
"Got any three's, Applejack?"
"Wha- how do you do that!?" A.J. exclaimed. She then sighed and said,
"Here you go. And... this is the 27th time you won in a row. The only pony that I know that ever gives you a real challenge is Pinkie Pie. I'm just nowhere near as good as you two!"
"Aw, A.J., don't worry about it! Hey, speaking of Pinkie Pie, shouldn't you send her a letter? I don't want her to drag your friends here- not when they have shops, weather, and certain animals- to take care of!" Said Granny Smith, part of the reason being that she could see her granddaughter was getting a bit tired of losing.
"Well, I suppose I could, but what about our game?"
"Don't you worry 'bout that, Applejack, you go write your friend, and I'll go read that book I borrowed from the library." Applejack smiled and responded,
"ok, Granny, I'll go right now!" She seemed a bit happier to have something else to do besides lose yet another game of cards. Granny Smith smiled as she watched A.J. run off, then she got the book out of her saddlebag, and settled down in the big cushioned chair to read. It had taken some convincing to get Twilight to agree to have one of her books so far away from where she was, but in the end, she let the book go, on account of "A.J. being one of her closest friends"- but not without many warnings of being very, VERY careful. At least she had the book now, and the roaring storm outside had given her a perfect chance to read it.
A.J., on the other hoof, was sitting at a desk, staring at a blank piece of paper, pencil sticking out from her mouth, with a thoughtful look on her face. What could she write? she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then opened them wide- and she began to write.
Howdy, everypony! How are you? How's Winona, and how's everything in Ponyville? The train ride was good- saw Carrot Top and Caramel! We ate lunch together and did some reminiscing, it was nice. Things are going well here, although there's a huge storm right now! Don't worry, though, I'm staying safe till it's over, which it will be by tomorrow morning. I think there were clouds stuck in the vents at the Canterlot weather factory, or something. I bet Rainbow Dash would know a lot more about that than me, though!
She paused in her writing, and pulled the pencil away from the page with her mouth. She was wondering if she should mentioned the pony that she bumped into (without saying the literal 'bumping into' part), and his somewhat similar apple cutie mark.
'Naw, I best not- it's not likely I'll see him again, anyways. Better keep it basic.' So she continued:
Well, I'm writing this pretty late, and tomorrow we have to go to the festival grounds to set up our booth. I just want to say that I miss you all, but I'll be back soon! Also, I'll try to write a letter as often as I can, but it might not be every day! Well, good night, everypony (although, may not be for you by the time you get this!)
A.J. stopped writing again, and pulled her head away to read over what she had written. She then decided that that was enough- it was only the first day, after all! She then put the letter in an envelope, sealed it tight, and put it in the mail slot by the door so the mail mare could deliver it to Ponyville. As she turned away, she started to speak:
"Alright, Granny, I wro-" as she finished doing her 180 degree turn... she saw her grandmother fast asleep on a large chair, and a book softly 'thump' to the floor. A.J. chuckled a bit, threw a blanket over her grandmother, picked up the book off the floor and put it back in the saddlebag- very carefully, of course. Then, after using the washroom, she got into one of the beds, and thought about the next day... and eventually fell sound asleep.