Me: Aaand we're back!

Tigress: What a joyous occassion.

Me: Wow. Somebody got up on the wrong side of the cat bed this morning.

Tigress: Do not test me.

Me: But it's fun to, little kitty.

Tigress: You do not know when to shut up.

Me: nope. But you know that from DB.

Tigress: Yes. I know.

Me: You guys will see DB near the end. Just a warning. Now, onto the chapter!

After a week of working on the farm, Sprocket had gotten used to waking up at the crack of dawn. He got up, still dead tired, but awake, and headed down to breakfast. The rest of the family came in soon after. "Well, look who's up on time, fer once."

Sprocket let out a yawn. "Ya, well, I'm finally used to getting up this early."

"Good. Cause yer gonna have ta get used ta wakin' up earlier."

Sprocket stared at Applejack with wide eyes. "Please tell me you're joking."

Big Mac answered for her. "Nope." Sprocket's head hit the table.

Applejack smiled. "Don't worry. We'll just be gettin' ya up fifteen minutes earlier at a time. Enough time ta help us out with a few early mornin' chores."

Sprocket lifted his head. "Fine. Well, what's for breakfast?"

"Oatmeal. Some rats've gotten inta soma the other food. So, Fluttershy's comin' by later ta take care o the problem."

"Okay then. What about work?"

"You n Big Mac'll be workin' over on the east field today. Ah'll be sellin' apples in town."

"Got it." Sprocket let out another yawn. Then he got hit by a splash of water, drenching his mane and coat. "What the!?"

He looked towards the other end of the table, seeing Apple Bloom with an empty bucket. "Ah figured it maght help ya wake up."

"Thanks. That is sure to help until I get to working."

After breakfast, they all headed off to work. Sprocket was still having trouble kicking the trees hard enough to knock down all the apples. He kicked at one tree, only for a single apple to fall on his head. He rubbed his head and glared at the tree. "I'm almost positive these trees hate me now. It seems any time I try getitng the apples, they manage to drop one right on my head. And they don't drop all of them."

"Just takes practice."

"That is probably the most I've ever heard you say in a single sentence."

"Eeyup."

Sprocket chuckled as he kicked the tree again, getting a few more off, and none hitting his head. He gave it a third kick, getting the rest off. "This is probably the hardest work my rear legs have ever had."

"That's parta yer problem."

Sprocket raised an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"Ya need ta use yer front legs as much as yer back ones. Like this." Big Mac demonstrated on a tree. "See?"

"Alright." He reared up and used the strength in both his front and back legs, and he got all but one off the tree. "Hm. Seems as though the only one not off the tree was the one above me." Just as he looked back down and was about to try kicking it again, the apple hit his head. Big mac had a small amused grin on his face. Sprocket gave him a mock glare. "Shut up."

The two continued working, but then, they seen Apple Bloom and her two friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo running towards them. When they passed, they looked to where they came from, and seen wolves made of wood coming their way. Sprocket's eyes widened and pupils shrank. "Are those t-timberwolves?"

"Eeyup."

"Are we goona run?"

"Nope. They're just like hitting trees."

"Except with teeth!"

"Eeyup." Big Mac took off running towards them. Sprocket sighed and followed. Big Mac quickly turned and kicked the first wolf, shattering it. Sprocket smiled when he seen how easy they were to break apart.

He ran and lept onto Big Mac's back, then launched himself off, kicking through two more wolves. He then kicked another, but as soon as he did that, he seen the wood of all the wolves they had taken down have a green glow before forming a bigger wolf. "Now, that just ain't fair."

"Nope."

"now can we run?"

"Eeyup." The two began running like their tails were on fire.

"How can you guys live knowing these things are right next door!?"

"They usually stay in the forest."

The two continued running, until Sprocket noticed a pile of junk that he had made his first day there. He smiled as a plan formed. "Hey, Big Mac. I've got a plan. Since I'm smaller and weaker, it'll follow me. I'll lead it inot the barn. You go and grab the old axel and get its attention and then open its motuh. When it opens its mouth, throw it into there. That might kill it." Big Mac nodded and they split off. What Sprocket didn't realize was that since he had taken out more wolves, they chose Big Mac. He slid to a halt. "That is not the plan. BIG MAC! LEAD THEM TO THE BARN!" Big Mac ran into the barn and Sprocket grabbed a smaller pie of metal and ran in. The wolf had Big Mac in a corner, but there was a hole and Big mac escaped. The biggest wolf tried scratching to get to Big Mac. Sprocket whistled at the wolf, who turned at him and growled. "Come at me." The biggest wolf opened its mouth to howl, but Sprocket threw the metal like a spear, and it went out through the back of the throat. "Hm. I'm better at throwing a spear than I thought. The wolf eventually fell over, dead. The other wolves looked towards the pony that was able to take down the biggest member. They growled. "Oh boy." He tried heding for the exit, but he was stopped by a wolf. He headed for the hole that seriously needed to be fixed and again was blocked. They all closed in on him, backing him into a wall. He gulped, when suddenly, an old axel went through the wolves, killing them. Sprocket turned to Big Mac, who nodded. "Thanks."

"Eeyup."

Sprocket then turned back to the wolves. "What are we going to do with them?"

Big Mac thought for a moment. "Firewood."

Sprocket chuckled. "Ironic. They tried to make us lunch. They'll be helping us stay warm and to make lunch." Big Mac smirked. "Huh. First time I ever made an ateempt at a joke."

"Just don't quit yer day job."

"Why? So you'll have somepony to help you around the farm when Applejack is selling apples?"

"Nope. So somepony'll be able ta save yer flank."

Sprocket raised an eyebrow. "Um, who saved who from a giant timberwolf?"

"Who saved who from a pack?"

"Touche." The two walked out and headed in for lunch. They seen Apple Bloom and her friends huddled inside with kitchen utensils as weapons and armor. "Why were those timberwolves following you?"

Apple Bloom and her friends quickly shed their armor and weapons. "You two seem hungry. Do ya want us ta cook ya a meal?"

Sprocket thought for a moment. "It would be a nice gesture. And while you're at it, you can tell us why the timberwolves were following you."

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle immediately pointed to Scootaloo and said, "It was her idea."

"What!?"

Sprocket just kept up his stare. "I don't care whose idea it was. Just answer my question." His tone had become slightly more forceful.

Apple Bloom's head fell, as did her ears. "We was tryin' ta get our cutie marks in timberwolf ranglin'."

Sprocket blinked a couple times and rubbed his ear, hopping he heard wrong. "I'm sorry. Did you say 'timberwilf rangling'?" Apple Bloom nodded. "What were you three thinking!?"

"Well, we thought that since we hadn't tried that yet, it might be a way to get our cutie marks for sure."

Sprocket was at a loss for words. When he finally found his voice, he said, "Have you tried getting your cutie marks in something a little less dangerous, like say tea making, or maybe corn cob doll making, or wood carving?"

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "Boring!" She then though for a moment. "Maybe we can get them in tree scultpering!"

Sprocket's eyes widened. "NO! That is way too dangerous. In fact just wood carving may be too dangerous."

Apple Bloom aksed, "Please let us do tree carving."

"No." The three crusaders then began to do cute faces. "Um."

They then asked in their cutest voice, "Please?"

Sprocket was having a hard time trying to say no. "Uh, Big Mac, help."

Big Mac turned to the fillies with closed eyes. "Nope. Now, git yerselves cleaned up fer lunch."

The three sighed and went to get cleaned up. Sprocket sighed in relief. "Thanks."

"No problem. Applejack'll be comin' in soon fer lunch. Go n' help her bring in the wagon n' tell her what happened."

"Got it." He trotted out the door and seen Applejack coming in. with the wagon. He wlaked up to her. "Do you want me to take the wagon for you?"

"Na. I got it. Anything happen while Ah was gone?"

Sprocket nodded. "Yes. We got some firewood." When he seen Applejack raise an eyebrow, he explained, "Apple Bloom and her friends thought they could get their cutie marks in timberwolf rangling."

Applejack shook her head. "Did you just say, 'timberwolf ranglin''?"

Sprocket chuckled. "I had the same reaction. Big Mac and I took them down. So, we now have firewood in the barn."

Applejack shook her head as she unhitched herself from the cart. "What am Ah gonna do with that filly?"

"I'd say we tell their parents what they did and move on from there."

"Ya. Ah'll tell 'em after lunch. Ah'm starvin'!" Sprocket followed her in, also ready to eat. But, they didn't realize that their problems with timberwolves were only starting.

Me: Huh. That was a nice way to end the chapter.

Tigress: You just told the audience this is going to have a lot of timberwolves in it.

Me: Yes. I also wasn't expecting to be having more troubles with timberwolves until the end of writing this. I plan nothing.

Tigress: Surprisingg you can even write anything then.

Me: Ouch. Well, review everypony!