Me: Hey! it's a new chapter. I didn't write one yesterday because of writer's block.

Tigress: Sure it is. Also, shouldn't you have said, "Typed".

Me: No one asked for your input.

Tigress: Let me leave and I won't give it anymore.

Me: Well, we are going to the story in five, four, three, two, one!

Tigress: When are we going to the story?

Me: Oh! Right! Enjoy the story! now we are going in five, four, thre-

Applejack walked into Sprocket's room. "Sprocket! Time ta git up!"

"HUH!? Wha?!" He looked up from the book he was resting his head on.

"Were ya readin' that book last night after we came in?"

Sprocket looked down, and back to Applejack with a nervous expression. "Uh. No. I just like using them as pillows."

Applejack gave a small smile. "Nice try. But, next time, go ta bed when we tell ya."

"Got it."

"Now, breakfast is ready. Come on down." Sprocket nodded and began heading that way, only to fall over with his eyes closed. Applejack grunted in annoyance. She left and returned a few minutes later with a bucket of ice water. She threw it on Sprocket, earning a yelp from him. "Good. Yer up. Gitcha some breakfast."

Sprocket nodded and shook the water off before following her out. It was another meal of pancakes. This stack was bigger than the last one. "H-holy cow. Th-that's a lot of pancakes."

"Nope. That's about the normal size o the stacks." Sprocket almost fell over from shock. "Doncha go ta fallin' asleep again. Ah don wanna wake ya up again."

"You'd probably enjoy hearing me yelp in surprise. Again."

Applejack though for a second. "Yer probably right." They all shared a chuckle before sitting down for a meal. "Sprocket. Yall will be workin' the apple stand in town today. Think ya can handle it?"

"Sure. My former boss was great at selling and told us several strategies for selling."

Applejack nodded. "Good."

After breakfast, Sprocket got hitched up to the applecart and he headed into town.

middle of town, a few minutes later

Sprocket got to the usual spot that the apple cart sat. But, now he has a problem. He couldn't un hitch himself from the cart. He tried pushing his back legs against it, but to no avail. He tried pulling himself out while pushing. He only moved the cart. Twilight eventually came by while he was trying to push himself out, using the harness and pushing on the cart. "Um. What are you doing?"

Sprocket looked over to where she was and blushed. "Trying to get out of this I've never been hooked up to anything before." Twilight used her magic and undid the harness, making him fall. "Thanks." He opened the cart up and smiled sheepishly. "Wanna buy an apple?"

Twilight chuckled. "Sure." She tossed him a few bits. "How has work on the farm been?"

"Tiring. But, I always enjoy late at night after supper. I lay out in the field looking up at the stars."

"I love stargazing myself. Any interesting constelations you like looking for?"

"No. I just enjoy gazing up at them."

Twilight nodded. "How are the books?"

Sprocket rubbed the back of his neck. "Good. But, I did get into a little bit of trouble for reading them."

"Oh?"

"Ya. I stayed up late and had a hard time getitng up this morning. Applejack had to throw ice water on me." Twilight chuckled at his plight. "I was just wnating to find a way to fend against Timberwolves easily."

"Well, I know what it's like to get sucked into a good book."

"I've done it many times before. Mainly with adventure, comedy and romance."

"Oh! Have you read any of the Daring Do books by A.K. Yearling?"

"No. I haven't. I would like to."

"I happen to have the first book in the series with me." She levitated the book out of her saddlebag. "It would be a nice way to pass the time while working."

"Thanks. I'll be sure to return it once I've read through it. I also have one book read."

"Well, just return it when you get the chance." Sprocket nodded. "Well, have a good day."

"Yes. You too." Twilight left and Sprocket began reading, often looking up to see if anypony was coming.

Noon

Sprocket had read the entire book and sold half the apples he had. The crusaders came running. "SPROCKET!"

"Huh?" He turned just in time for the crucsaders to pile on top of him. "Hello to you, too."

"COME QUICK! TIMBERWOLVES ARE ON THE FARM!"

Sprocket's eyes widened. "Not good." He ran off as fast as he could, heading towards the farm.

Sweet Apple Acres

Sprocket came running, looking for timberwolves. He spotted Applejack bucking an apple tree. He ran up to her. "Applejack!"

"What's the problem partner?"

"The crusaders said there were timberwolves on the farm!"

Applejack raised her eyebrow. "No. Not that Ah know of."

"Would they be near the club house?"

"No. Ah was there when they ran out ta start crusadin' and they headed in the opposite direction of the Everfree, directly towards town."

"Those three lying devils. I just don't understand why they would lie to me. Why do they want me away form the cart?"

"Oh no."

town

The two came to where the stand had been setting, but it was nowhere to be found. "Oh, those fillies are in so much trouble."

Sprocket sighed. "I can build just about anything from a few pieces of metal, but I'm easily fooled by three fillies." Suddenly the heard a crash. "What was that?" The two ran to where the crash was heard and they seen apples, broken pieces of wood, some metal, and three dazed fillies.

"Ah don't think we're meant ta be Cutie Mark Crusader cart flyiers."

"You also aren't meant be seeing the light of day for a while." The three fillies looked towards Sprocket and Applejack, neither looking too happy.

The three nervously waved. "H-how are you two doing?" Sweetie Belle gave them a nervous smile.

"Sprocket. Take Apple Bloom home. Ah'll be taking Sweetie Belle n' Scootaloo home. Send 'er straight ta her room." Sprocket nodded and took Applebloom with him, while Applejack took Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. All three had there heads down.

Sprocket and Applebloom wlaked for silence, when Sprocket finally broke the silence. "Applebloom." He looked down, she didn't look up. "Applebloom. Look at me." She raised her head. He stopped, as did she. "What were you and your friends thinking?"

"we was trying ta git our cutie marks in flyin' a cart."

Sprocket sighed. "Look. I understand you three want your cutie marks, but doing stuff that could get you killed is not what you should be doing. If you did get killed in one of the attempts, how do you think your sister would feel? Or your brother, or grandmother, or your many, many, cousins, uncles, and aunts?" Applebloom looked down. "Also, what if one of your friends were to die? How would you feel then?" He lfited Applebloom's head. "I'm not trying to make you feel bad. I just want you to think about them the next time. Also, I'm very dissappointed that you lied to me. Especially with what you lied to me about." He turned to leave. "Come on now. We need to get home." Applebloom nodded and began heading towards the house.

later that evening

Applebloom was sent to bed right after supper, and Sprocket and Apple jack were sitting outside, talking. "So, she's been grounded for a week, only going out to the school, coming home, and when she's not working on homework, she'll be helping me rebuild the apple cart?"

"Yep. 'Bout sums it up. Also, thanks fer givin' her the talkin' ta she needed."

"Well, it needed to be said. I made sure I had let my anger cool before I talked to her so I didn't say something that I'd regret."

Applejack nodded. "Hopefully they'll stop doing such crazy stunts."

Sprocket chuckled. "From what I've seen, they won't stop. They may take extra precaution, but that would be it."

"Unfortunately. Now, we should probably head in. Yall got a cart ta repair tamorrow."

Sprocket nodded. "I know. "

"And Ah better not find out ya stayed up late readin again."

"I learned my lesson the first time." The two shared a chuckle as they went in.

Me: Tigress, not one word about the intro.

Tigress: You're terrible at predicting when the story starts.

Me: You know that doing that won't make me let you out sooner, right?

Tigress: Review, readers.