> Thicker than Water > by Applegamer > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Buy some apples! > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It was a pleasant day in Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack was doing some farm work, along with Big Macintosh. Applejack’s little sister, Applebloom, was in her clubhouse trying to find their destiny. The clubhouse is used primarily by the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The other two members, besides Applebloom, are Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. After a hard day of work on the farm, Applejack went off to see her friends. “Howdy y’all!” Applejack said happily as she approached them. “Hey, Applejack!” the others said. “How’re y’all doing today?” Applejack asked the others. “Great!” Replied the others. “That’s good.” Applejack said. “So what are y’all gonna do today?” “I’m throwing a super duper party for a filly!” Pinkie Pie said with a smile. “Clearing the sky.” Rainbow Dash replied. “Making a dress for a client.” Rarity said. “I… um… am going to help the sick animals.” Fluttershy responded nervously. “Spike and I are going to reorganize the library.” Twilight Sparkle said. “What about you, AJ?” Pinkie Pie asked. “I’m going to the Everfree Forest to find the Golden Apple.” Applejack said. “The Everfree Forest?” everypony said with a shock. ‘’Isn’t that dangerous?” “Darling why do you want to go into a place like that?” Rarity asked. “You could get hurt.” “I’ll be ok, y’all.” Applejack said to Rarity as she got up. “Please be careful, ok?“ Applejack’s friends asked her. “I will y’all.” Applejack said with a smile, then walked out the door. As Applejack walked to her barn, she stopped at the market to see what she can buy for the trip. “Hmmm… Is there anything I need?” Applejack asked herself. “Wait, what’s that?” As Applejack walks past a stand, she sees a book titled ‘Vamponies, Batponies, and Wereponies’. I should probably get this. Applejack thought to herself. Other ponies have said they have seen things in the Everfree Forest, and although I don’t think they exist, it can’t hurt to have this. As Applejack looked at the book, a blue stallion walked up to her. “Ah, you like what you see?” The stallion asked as he got close to her. “Um, howdy! Yes, I like the look of this book, how much is it?” Applejack asked. “That book is 10 bits,” The stallion said, “but may I ask- why do you need a book like this?” “Because I’m going to the Everfree Forest tonight, and I want this, just in case.” Applejack answered. “The Everfree Forest?” The stallion said with a hint of shock in his voice. “Why do you want to go there? Many other ponies that go into the Everfree Forest never come back. Applejack pulled out the 10 bits and handed them to the stallion. “R-really? Why?” she asked. “The creatures that live in the Everfree Forest aren’t quite as nice as your dogs and cats.” The stallion said. “Some are very nasty when startled.” “Like Timber Wolves?” Applejack asked. “Are they what you’re referring to? I can take care of them in a heartbeat.” Applejack said boastfully. “No, not just the Timber Wolves.” The stallion said. “Worse than that.” “Like?” Applejack asked. “Vamponies, Wereponies, and other things too.” The stallion said. He then began laughing. “You’re so gullible! The worst you’ll see is a stray dragon. So why are you going there anyhow?” “I’m going there because I’m gonna get the golden apple, that’s why!” Applejack said triumphantly. “Just be careful.” The stallion said warningly. “Don’t want to get hurt, now do you?” “I will, thanks for the book!” Applejack said as she walked away. He’s right. Applejack thought. Vamponies and wereponies don’t exist. It could be something else making the other disappear, like a dragon or something else. And if they are real, I can take them out if they try to touch me, and it’ll learn not to mess with me. Applejack smiled at her own joke, then started home. When she got home, her friends were there. What are my friends doing here? Applejack asked herself. She walked over to her friends. “Um, howdy yall! What are you doing here?” Applejack asked. “Applejack, we like to give your something we found.” Pinkie pie said to Applejack with a serious look on her face. “What is it Pinkie?” Applejack asked. “Twilight found out that the golden apple is protected by a wolf,” Pinkie said, “And he has to kill anypony who tries to get the golden apple, so please be careful and don’t die!” Applejack’s friends gave her a desperate look. “I will, y’all.” Applejack said with a smile. “I’ll me mighty careful out there. Alright, see y’all later.” Applejack opened the door and started towards the Everfree forest. “Alrighty, bye!” Applejack started to wave as she got farther out. Applejack started to walk to the Everfree forest. She was startled to see the stallion that gave her the book earlier. Hey, isn’t that the stallion that gave me the book before? Applejack asked herself. However, he disappeared before Applejack could get a better look. She started to walk deeper into the Everfree forest. I haven’t been in here for a long time, I wonder how much it has changed. Applejack thought. Nevertheless, I’ve got to go. The golden apple should be in the middle on the forest. She walked warily into the depths of the forest, keeping an eye out for trouble. Or gold. As she walks, she started to see a golden glow deeper in the forest. She felt her happiness grow and she started to run faster. Eventually, she reached the golden apple. As she walked up to the golden apple, a wolf came out of nowhere. “So this is the wolf that the other talked about.” Applejack said to herself. “Well, I’ll teach it a lesson.” She wait for the wolf to attack. The wolf started to run to her and tried to attack, but it missed. Applejack kicked the wolf hard in the face, then the leg. It fell to the ground and the wounds to its head caused it to start to die. But before it died, it gave one last spring of adrenaline and ran away. “HA!” Applejack yelled. “That’s how you do it on the farm!” She went up to the golden apple and picked it. “This is going to be the best apple pie I’ve ever made!” Applejack put it in her bag and started to walk away from the tree. She was an excellent navigator and despite it being past midnight, she could avoid the trees from the soft light of the moon. She didn’t, however, see the dark shade that lurked behind her, following her steps.