"Well, here we go Big Mac. 'Nother year, 'nother applebucking season." Applejack stretched her arms in the morning sunlight.
"Eeyup."
"Just hope, the old rusty tractor won't give up on us again."
"Eeyup."
"Ya have a huge vocabulary, did ah ever tell ya that?"
"Eeyup."
Applejack laughed and playfully smacked her brother's arm. It was their usual morning ritual, she would say things that just so came into her head and Mac would reply with either "eeyup" or "eenope". He rarely said more than one of those two words.
"Alright. Ya get the traktor and ah...ah..." Both AJ's and Mac's jaw figuratively hit the floor, when they found a whole lotta bunch of their apples flying from from one of the far away orchards into one of their barns. The faint sound of them hitting the floor could be heard, until Applebloom closed the door.
"That was the last one Sunset." the little girl called out. Just then her older siblings noticed the unicorn slowly trotting up towards them, obviously having trouble keeping her head up from the ground. An idea of what might have happened, no scratch might, it totally happened. AJ and Big Mac ran up to Sunset, who upon hearing the footsteps, raised her head and greeted them.
"Morning guys." she lamely waved with her leg, loosing balance in the process and would have hit the floor, if not for Big Macintosh catching her.
"Sunset?! Are ya alright?" Applebloom shouted, running up to everyone and -pony.
"What have ya done?!" Applejack asked her equine friend.
"Magic...exhausted...water?" Sunset was clearly having trouble speaking.
"Let's get her inside." Mac suggested, already standing up and quickly heading towards their house. His younger siblings quickly followed him, not being able to catch up. Applejack used the opportunity to ask Applebloom what exactly happened.
"Well, ah told Sunset Shimmer 'bout applebuckin' season an' she told me she had a "surprise" ready for the whole family. Ah didn't know what she meant, 'till she woke me up and brought me outside. It was amazin' Applejack. She just send all of the apples of an entire orchard flyin' and sent them into the barns. We needed ta walk ta each orchard, but ya should have seen her!"
"Now wait a darn minute. Ya telling me Sunset picked up all the apples all by herself?"
Applebloom nodded.
"And how many orchards did she harvest?"
"Ah'm not sure, but ah think...all of them."
Sunset gulped down her fifth glass of water, Big Mac watching her a little worried. Around that time the other two Apples walked into the kitchen. Seeing Sunset like that, made Applejack worry.
"Are you alright, sugercube?" the farm girl asked.
Sunset nodded, putting the glass with her hooves away. "Exhausted, but fine."
"What were ya doin' out there anyway?"
"Well, Applebloom told me you were having a bit of a rough time and really needed this harvest to be done. So, I decided to help out."
"H-help out? Sugar, ya done the whole harvesting fer us! Ah...ah don't really know what ta say."
"Ah guess, thank you would be a start." Big Macintosh shrugged. "But are ya really alright? Ya look like ya just came from a three hour rodeo and ya were the one carrying the rider."
Sunset couldn't help but laugh at the mental image. "I'm fine really, well I should be after I got something in my stomach. Still, I'm kinda disappointed. I shouldn't be out of it like that."
"Yeah whatever. Big Mac's right though, thanks a ton hun. Come on, ya deserve a real mighty breakfast."
"Eeyup."
"Urgh, I ate too much." Sunset groaned. She was lying on Fluttershy's lap, who they picked up on their way to school. Big Mac was driving the truck again and AJ was sitting between Fluttershy and her brother.
"How can you eat that much every day?" Sunset asked from her position, as Fluttershy gently stroke over Sunset's belly.
"Ah reckon comes from living on the farm. Ya need the energy, ya know. Right, Big Mac?"
"Eeyup."
"Ow, it's still unnatural."
"Coming from the unicorn." Mac mentioned, causing everyone to laugh.
The mare in question just rolled her eyes and continued to ignore her dignity and enjoyed the belly rub she was getting from Fluttershy. The girl enjoyed the session as well, her other hand wandering towards Sunset's head and started gently stroking through the mane. It felt more like human hair, than the mane of a pony and the fur was almost as soft as that of a bunny.
Fluttershy was a little disappointed, when Sunset rolled around and took her "diary-phone" out.
"Are you writing to Twilight?" Fluttershy asked, while stroking through the mane of the pony.
"Yes. There's something I want to ask her."
"Oh, what is it?"
"Just if she could bring some books over from Equestria."
Dear Princess Twilight,
I know it's a little early to write something, but I figured I needed this one sorted out before school starts. You see, yesterday I learned that Applejack's family had a bit of a bad harvest last year and another one would have come with a lot of problems. Naturally, I decided to help her out with that and with my magic abilities (and a few snack apples) I was able to significantly help her out. However, I noticed that my magical capabilities are really lacking. I already figured my stamina wasn't up to par with what it used to be, but it turned out it was worse than I thought. Also I remembered I have been out of touch with magic for quite some time and certainly could need a refresher and maybe an insight on what is new.
Long story short, I'm asking you if you could provide me with some books of magic theory, spells and so on. Even if I turn back into a human in less than a week, the least I could do is continuing my studies on various theories and learn new ones.
I hope you can help me with that and I'm sorry for the inconvenience.
Your friend,
Sunset Shimmer
Sunset spit out the pen closed the book. Her magic reserves were still recovering and it was probably for the best to safe everything up, until she and the girls would start on their rehearsal. Fluttershy helped Sunset packing her bag and volunteered to carry it.
"You need to take it easy." she said, stepping out of the truck. The others soon followed her, Sunset carefully trying to hide herself between her friend's legs. It didn't work. As soon as one student laid her eyes on Sunset, everyone suddenly gathered around the group.
"Now, simmer down y'all!" Applejack tried to push the crowd away. "Ya all gawked at the poor gal yesterday, now give her some space mind you. Sunset Shimmer ain't a zoo attraction!"
Some of the students looked guilty and slowly walked away, others just muttered in annoyance and most likely would try again, when the unicorn was alone.
"Thanks Applejack, though you don't need to do that, really. Let them have their fun. This'll be over soon enough anyway."
"Forget it, sugercube. I ain't gonna let them gawk at ya on mah watch. It ain't right, you know." Applejack retorted.
"Applejack is right Sunset. That was a little rude of them." Fluttershy supported her farm friend.
"Look, I really appreciate what you do for me, but compared to what I have done to them, a little gawking, petting, occasional tail pulling is nothing." the unicorn said, looking at her poor, poor tail.
"Oh Sunset" Fluttershy wrapped her arms around the unicorn "you already made amends to all of those actions. We have all already forgiven you."
"Shy's right, Sun. 'Sides, it ain't really healthy blaming yerself for stuff everybody saw past."
The unicorn sighed, but nodded. "Alright, I'll try.
...
Um, Fluttershy? You can let go now, you know?"
"Oh, I'm sorry." the girl blushed, but Sunset could hear a hint of the disappointment in the animal caretaker's voice.
The unicorn chuckled and was about to make her way into the school building, when suddenly a lash of light came from the statue and a trolley filled with seemingly tons of books came out of it. It was followed by a second flash of light with Twilight getting out of the portal, an exciting grin on her face. She saw Sunset and quickly walked over to the fellow Equestrian, taking the cart with her.
"Uh...hey Twilight. What's-?"
"You said you wanted to pick up on your magic studies and I definitely approve of your decision. Together we might be able to find out how the portal actually works and what hidden magic this world might have. I knew you would be busy in school most of the day, so I picked up some light reading material for you."