Chapter One:
When the silhouettes finally came into closer view, Applejack and Big Macintosh recognized the one on the left: It was Cheerilee, the teacher down at the schoolhouse Applebloom went to. Seeing the purple pony trotting up to Sweet Apple Acres sent Big Macintosh’s stomach aflutter; ever since the incident the CMC had gotten himself and Cheerilee into on Hearts and Hooves day, he knew that his chances with her had grown slimmer, and he had not seen her since.
Big Macintosh had been admiring Cheerilee from afar since his little sister began attending her schoolhouse. Her brightness and outgoing way of life were personality traits he was envious of, since he came across as, well… Quiet and serious. In reality, he could be just the same as anypony else, but was held back by a painful shyness and overall demeanor of silence, owed in part to losing his father and mother. Nopony else but him and the rest of the Apple’s that lived in the house knew about his reasons for being so quiet, and nopony else at all knew about his deep-seated affection for Cheerilee.
Finally, as the figures came close enough for Applejack and Big Mac to come through the front door and stand on the front porch to greet their visitors, Big Mac got a better look at the unicorn on the right that had been walking with Cheerilee. He had a brownish-yellow coat that looked similar to Cousin Braeburn’s, but with more brown. His mane was somewhat long, but tidy, and was a dark blue. Sure enough, as Granny Smith had said, his cutie mark was, in fact, a scalpel crossed with a needle with a piece of thread passing through its eye.
As the two came within earshot, Big Mac could hear Cheerilee laughing heartily, no doubt at a good joke that Jackknife had told.
“Oh goodness, I’ve never heard that one before, Mr. Jackknife.”
“Oh, come off it, now. Please, call me Jack.” Jackknife said in a smooth, even voice tinged with an English accent.
Cheerilee giggled, sounding more like a schoolfilly she’d be teaching than a schoolteacher. “Alright then, Jack.”
“Ah… Howdy there, Uncle Jackknife. And howdy to you too, Miss Cheerilee! What brings you to these parts?”
“Hello, Applejack! And hello to you too, Big Macintosh!” Cheerilee said brightly, giving a warm smile to the siblings standing on the porch. “I’m here because Applebloom never showed up for class today. I just wanted to stop by to make sure everything was alright.
“Hold on now, whad’ya mean Applebloom never showed up fer class? Ah watched that filly walk out the door this mornin’.” Applejack said defensively, believing her little sister would never be so irresponsible.
“Well, be that as it may, Applejack, little Applebloom wasn’t there when I called roll. Are you sure she headed to school? Did you see her head in that direction?” Cheerilee responded.
“Well, ah… Ah guess I didn’t really pay much attention after she headed out the door. Didn’t think ah’d need to, seein’ as how she always goes to school. This is the first time this has happened, y’know.”
“Well, if I may interject,” Jackknife cut in, clearing his throat, “while it certainly was irresponsible of Applebloom to not head to class, we now face a new problem; Applebloom cannot be accounted for, and is therefore technically missing.”
Applejack’s eyes grew wide with fear. “Oh mah gosh! Yer right, Uncle Jackknife! We gotta find her!” Prepared to race off, Applejack ran… straight into Bic Mac. He had stepped in front of her to stop her from going anywhere.
“Now, everyone just calm down.” Big Mac said, letting his concern for his little sister overpower his lack of will to speak more than a few words at a time. “First of all, it’s good ta see ya again, Jack.” Jackknife bowed slightly in response, a small smirk playing across his muzzle.
“Alrighty. Now, from what we know about Applebloom, she couldn’t have gotten far. She would most likely wanna stay in Sweet Apple Acres. Gettin’ lost in town wouldn’t do her a bit ah good, and she knows that. She may not be the smartest filly, but she knows enough.” Big Mac said. As he spoke, his eyes drifted towards Cheerilee. Her emerald green eyes were fixed on his. Looking at her almost caused him to drift off, but he caught himself at the last second.
Even still, it wasn't soon enough for Jackknife to not notice.
Applejack’s heavy breathing out of concern for her sister slowed a bit, and eventually ceased, as she calmed down and regained her rational thought. She sighed and looked over to the other ponies around her.
“Well, ah guess yer right about that much, Big Mac. We still gotta find her, though.”
“I’d like to help.” Jackknife and Cheerilee said at nearly the same time. They looked at eachother, Jackknife with a playful look and Cheerilee with a slight blush.
“Well, I have yet to meet my little “niece”, as it were, and I certainly wish it was on better terms than this, but I’d certainly like to offer my assistance in tracking her down. I’d so hate to leave you two to the task.” Jackknife said to Applejack and Big Mac, looking at them both with a look of sudden look of ya sternness.
“And since I am her teacher, I feel obligated to assist in finding her as well. I want to make sure she’s safe.” Cheerilee said.
“Alright then. Ah figure it’ll be easier to split up into two teams to search for Applebloom. Howd’ya wanna split up the teams?” Applejack said.
“I believe it would be best if it were to be Big Macintosh and I and yourself and Miss Cheerilee.” Jackknife replied coolly, looking over to Big Mac out the corners of his narrow eyes.
“Yes, that sounds like a good plan, Jack.” Cheerilee said, trotting over to join Applejack.
“Right then. Big Macintosh and I shall work our way towards the Southern fields and yourself and Cheerilee shall work toward the Northern fields.” Jackknife said, his skills as a leader overtaking those of all of the other ponies there.
Applejack looked over to Cheerilee. “That sound like a plan to you, ma’am?”
“The sooner we find Applebloom, the better.” Cheerilee simply said, joining Applejack as they trotted towards the trails that led to the North fields.
“It’s settled, then.” Jackknife said, gesturing with his head for Big Mac to follow in the opposite direction.