Authors note: This is a prequel that predates my story and that of the MLP series. Much of the characters will be oc's including Granny's sister. I mentioned her in the story that I wrote with Applejack and Applebloom. Anyway this story will first take place when Granny was a pony and up till, well, if you read the other story you already know. I don't wish to spoil anymore so bear in mind the content will be near the same as the first story. Also if this isn't your cup of tea and you persist to read past this point…don't say I didn't warn ya.

My Little Pony

Smith Sisters in Action

CH.1: Sisters at odds

Sunlight peered through the open barn into the closed eyes of a young pony deep in sleep. She refused to abide by the morning call and simply refused to allow her eyes any acknowledgment of the pressing schedule laid before her. Maple Smith was content with her slumber and as the rooster sounded the secondary wake up call; she hardly heard the call at all. "I can't hear you," she said, "go wake up the others."

Trotting in with a huge smile on her face another pony came into view with a beautiful blond flowing mane that made her skin shine serene like. Her big eyes danced in the coming sun and her tail swished about happier then a pony done with their chores. "Wake up sis…brand new day before us and lots of work to take care of."

"Five more minutes…then you say that to me again," Maple said. Her sister Abigail was an early riser…which truly annoyed the heck out of her. She was a late riser and needed her beauty sleep if she was to tackle the day with any enthusiasm. Her mane was shorter then her sister and her skin hardly shined as much as hers did. Truth be told her sister was beautiful. Still…she held some likeness about herself that her sister didn't have…her butt. She was quite fond of its shape and umph that made girls jealous of its…swing.

"Ugh…now what good will that do? The Apple harvest is coming up and the carnival is also heading our way. We need to be prepared or we will be behind schedule. Mother would not approve of this and be glad I am out here instead of her. She has taken mighty ill and she put me in charge of things while she was healing up."

"Fine…I'm up ok?" Lowering her hooves she stared into her sister's eyes and felt her pulse quicken. Her heart was steeped in slow beats that caused her face to flush and she had to look away just to hide it. "What is first on the schedule…boss?"

"We need some apples for Mom's famous apple cider for the carnival. Some of the girls have already gone ahead to shake some apples loose. Sasha Star is quite the tree shaker and if we don't hurry she will have all the apples picked."

"Seriously Abigail…you need to stop and smell the flowers. I mean if Sasha is doing most of the work…why do we bother going? This time of year the flowers are just blooming and just one sniff and-."

"Maple your work ethics are lousy. Instead of procrastinate and let others do the work you should get off your lazy butt and help out. I swear if you weren't my sister-."

"Yeah yeah…if I haven't heard it already…the reminder sure helps. Plus my butt is hardly lazy…fine or sexy would work better-."

"Ugh…your helpless! Come on before I call someone in to mediate." Hurrying forward Abigail took in the many trees and offered a nod to the other ponies. The girls were hard workers and most of them were close friends of hers. Of course she couldn't socialize with all of them due to the pressure that was placed on her. Her mother had taken ill and was housed up on bedrest till she could get back on her hooves. Abigail as a filly was a different story though. As a Pony there were responsibilities to consider and a force of maturity was sent her way. Maple clearly took after their father who had passed away some time ago. All she could remember of him was his practical jokes and lazy attitude towards anything work related. Most mornings were accompanied by loud yelps from their father because of their mother's insistent nibbles at his ears.

Maple mocked her sister from behind and looked away innocently when she turned to check on her. Ever since that one day she gave her the slip she was on constant surveillance. It was rather annoying but she was her older sister…what was she going to do? Arriving at the apple picking spot she spotted Sasha Star in the trees. She was a black pony with brilliant green eyes and soft features that often belied the fact she was hard to get to know. Hardly anyone could hold a conversation without her going off on work that needed to be done. Noticing their arrival she smiled down at them with her pearly whites showing. Her black mane fell effortlessly down her shoulders and her body was hardly flinching even at the height she balanced on.

"Well well…look who finally woke up. I hope you had a nice nap Maple. Oh and there you are Abigail…I waited for ya…but I couldn't resist-."

"Its quite alright Sasha. There are plenty of trees for the rest of us and it looks like you already have things covered here. Come along Maple…we can stir up some apples in another locale." Abigail gently nudged her sister after much resistance and as they gained some distance she let out a sigh. "I swear she is trying to take my job-."

"She doesn't get up quite early enough to do that sis," Maple teased. When she saw her sister's look she laughed nervously and trotted beside her. "Why do you let her get to you like that anyway?"

"Mom told us to have a civil tongue and to never speak back to another unless it was absolutely necessary. Sasha Star happens to be a hard worker and with the schedule we have it is important we keep her around. Her family happens to run the Carnival and one wrong word can keep us out of it."

Maple shook her mane and stood in front of her sister. "You need a backbone sis. I mean a little heated bit of words never hurt anyone. If you want I can-."

"Maple…what part of civil do you not know?" Looking at her blank look she let out a resigned sigh and focused her eyes on her. "Listen…long as the Carnival is here it is vital nothing wrong transpires between either of us and Sasha. She is the one that decides which apples are accepted in…and we Smiths have been in the Carnival for generations."

Blah blah, Maple thought, does she ever do anything with that pretty mouth of hers beside lecture me? Maple was stunned she even said that and tried to think of something else. Since when did she think her sister had a pretty mouth? It wasn't like her…no…focus on something else. "So Abigail, uh, seen any cute guys of late?"

Abigail considered it before making her way around her sister and said simply over her shoulder, "no." Making her way forward she could hear her sister's flurried hooves and once again she was stopped by her. "What now?"

"Why not? The guys are hotter then ever and a few have even turned their heads as you walked on by. Surely this has not escaped your attention?"

"Why would a guy look at me? I hardly consider myself a looker and any time one talks to me I can't seem to say anything but work related. If anything sis it is you they consider the hot sister. The way you flaunt your body they get a little…hard around the shaft-."

"I-I haven't really noticed," Maple stuttered. Truth was she ignored the boys simply because their sex appeal did nothing for her. The thing was the same sex worked her into a sexual frenzy and staring long after their departure was her…obsession. She could never tell her sister this or the time they shared would become awkward and weird. They did bathe together and at times they were against one another in ways that made her wet. "So…you thinking of asking one to the pony invite dance?"

Abigail shrugged and flipped her bangs out of her eyes. "I have no clue. Honestly when it comes to boys I am so work oriented if I did get around to asking one…I would die of embarrassment. The dance is still a good week away so there is no hurry." She said. Finding a perfect tree she stopped and felt her sister bump into her backside. "Do you mind?"

Maple groaned and saw her sister's backside in front of her. She was tempted to nibble it…even to get a good feel. However at her sister's question she was alerted to the danger zone and backed away in a fluster. "S-Sorry about that…wasn't thinking…so is this the tree?"

"Yes it is. Now get up there and fetch some apples for us to get back to the farm. I don't want to waste any more time chatting about boys." Abigail found a ladder and leant it up against the tree and when it was sturdy enough signaled her sister over.

"Alright miss fun," Maple sighed. Climbing up she was well aware of her ass being in clear gropage distance between her and her sister. Still Abigail made no move or made her intentions clear so she persisted up. Once secure hoof hold was placed on the branch she began to pick the apples one by one. The task was slow and without talk of boys there was only one left. "Have you ever thought about…girls?"

Taken aback by the question she looked up at her little sister. "W-Why would you ask such a question like that? Don't you know that in Ponyville to have any physical interaction with the same gender is-?"

"I am well aware of that Abigail! Still…everyone is entitled to a little guilty pleasure or thought every now and then. I mean…no one is entirely innocent there right?" Dropping an apple down she still read the aghast look on her sister's face.

"You are unbelievable! I should tell Mother of this instantly and bring this conversation before the Council." Abigail went on with her task hurriedly and as she let the question settle down in her flurry of thoughts she began to realize such thoughts did exist. Of course even out here they were never entirely safe from eager ears.

"What ever happened to secrets among sisters?" Maple accused. Her eyes were like fire orbs staring down at her sister at that very moment. She would thought her sister of all people she could confide in, but, it looks like they weren't on the same page.

Abigail looked anywhere but at her sister and so she chose to look at the apples. "This looks like a subsequent batch we can bring back. When you get down could you take care of the ladder? Thanks sis love ya."

"Not as much as I love you," Maple heaved a sigh. Heading down she watched her sister head off leaving her alone with the ladder. It was always like this when it came to Apples and anytime she brought up girls…that reaction always was imminent. She was so ready to burst and yet she couldn't because no one was in her corner. Kicking the ladder down she felt her ears twitch and turning around stared into the eyes of Sasha.

"I couldn't help overhearing you and your sister," Sasha said innocent like, her eyes dancing in the fading sun. "It is a shame to have a sister who won't even talk girl to girl with you. I know if I my sister and I were in this situation…things would transpire differently-."

"What do you want Sasha?" Maple demanded. She was not in the mood to talk to someone who spoke ill like of her sister. While her sister would let her walk all over her…it was different with her.

"Did you need to talk to someone? I can't help but feel your…holding something in you don't want anyone else to hear. I am a good listener and would never tell a soul as to what you were…hiding."

"Ha…nice try Sasha Star. I would never confide in you if you were the last pony in Ponyville. I know your family runs the Carnival and you would like nothing more than to have my family kicked out. Well this is one Pony who won't give in to you."

Sasha showed her teeth and a light laugh escaped from the deepest depths of herself. "Have it your way Smith…have it your way. I will eventually find out what your hiding…you can bet your sweet apples on that." Sasha left then leaving Maple a good long look of her ass.

Grinding her teeth on her bottom lip she wanted to bite her ass. She restrained herself remembering her sister's warming words. Hurrying on home she found most of the Ponies already packing up for the day and little visibility could be made out. Maple grew frantic but soon found her sister waiting for her in front of the barn. She couldn't tell if that was genuine concern in her eyes or simply a frustrated look weighed down by growing worry.

"There you are…mother has been worried sick. Did you have trouble getting out of the tree?" Abigail gave her sister a hard stern look and as she noticed her sister shrink upon her stare she lightened up some. "There's some apple pie inside…better hurry while there is some."

"I was just…talking…is all," Maple said over her shoulder. Hurrying inside she found a slice of apple pie waiting for her along with her mother.

"Oh my precious little darling…are you alright? Did your sister tell you I was worried sick? Don't look alarmed, it was a bad joke as I already am. How did the apple picking go?"

"It went fine…except Sasha Star is giving Abigail a hard time," Maple sat down and chomped down on some pie choosing to ignore her sister's look.

"Abigail…is this true? I know I told you to hold a civil tongue…but continuing to let her belittle you like that is unhealthy."

"Mom it isn't as hyped up as Maple makes it out to be. I simply…ignore her…that is it. She has some snarky comments…but…if they don't get to me…why should I fire back?"

"Honey-." She could get no more out as Abigail left the room and the conversation was over. Looking over at her youngest daughter she saw her licking up her plate. "Your not letting Sasha Star get to you right?"

"Nope…not one bit. Night mom…love ya." Kissing her mom's cheek she hurried after her sister and once clear of the room sighed. She hated lying to her mom but what other choice did she have? Sasha offered her a counseling ear to whisper into. Her own sister wouldn't hear her out and when it came to other girls she simply avoided the subject. Finding Abigail curled up in her hay bed she settled into her own with a plop. "Sis…about today-."

"Your forgiven. If we sisters don't stick together…who will be there when it really counts? I just wish you would stop asking me about girls. It isn't safe and if word got to the council or even wondering ears like Sasha's…who knows where we'll end up. You do know if you are found guilty you are banned from Ponyville right?"

Maple nodded her head and saw her sister smile. Still as she saw her sister drift to sleep she felt a need to talk to someone. Sasha proved to be her best bet and tomorrow she might just take her up on that offer.

Abigail waited till her sister closed her eyes before she opened her own. While she was tempted to talk to her sister about girls she also knew that being banned meant leaving her mother alone to run the farm. She did not want that and besides she was sure this was just a phase that her sister was going through. After all boys was one thing...but girls...please. Finding her eyes grow heavy she realized staying up any longer would interfere with the preparations needed tending tomorrow. So she let out a big yawn and settled into her slumber and let her dreams take over.

Authors note: It is always nice to start off tame before getting to the heavy stuff. Will Maple confide in Sasha? Well until chapter two we shall see.