Mike's POV

As I walked to Applejack's house, I wondered why she hadn't left the last few days. Usually around this time of year, she would be in Ponyville selling apple products.

When I got to Sweet Apple Acres, she wasn't even outside. There were lots of trees with apples still on them, yet Applejack wasn't here bucking the trees.

I knocked on the door to her house, and she didn't answer. Instead, I heard a slight sobbing. It was Applejack's, but I also heard Rarity sobbing. What in Equestria is she doing here? And sobbing, no doubt?

I knocked again, and Apple Bloom answered. "Whaddya want? Can't y'all see were busy here?"

I managed to hold a straight face. "Actually, I can't see anything going on, but I sure can hear it going on."

"Oh, y'all can hear her?"

My composure started to crumble. "Listen, I just wanna make sure she's alright. I haven't seen her in a few days, and I'm getting worried."

"She's just havin' a bad week is all. Come back next week."

She tried to close the door, but I stuck out my hoof, ignoring the pain that followed. "You're not going to stop me, okay? I'm here to check on her, and that's what I'm gonna do."

"She figured y'all mahght do that. Come on in."

I never really got a good look at the interior of the farm house. It was pretty neat. I asked where AJ was, and Apple Bloom pointed upstairs, saying to check the second door on the right.

I went upstairs, knocked on the correct door. When Applejack replied to go away, I answered.

"AJ, it's me, Mike. I know everything is most certainly NOT alright. Just tell me what's wrong and I can help you. And I will NOT take 'go away' for answer."

I waited a few seconds before I got a reply. "You never were a quitter."

"Neither were you. Now let me in, my legs are killing me."

I heard a slight click, and the door opened a few inches. "Hey there, Mahke."

"Hello AJ. What's Rarity doing here?" I noticed Rarity sitting on Applejack's bed.

"You wanna know whah Ah haven't been in town recently?"

"Only if you're comfortable talking about it."

"Here's the story. This hat has been worn on mah head for as long as Apple Bloom's been 'round, but it's not somethin' Ah wear because Ah lahke it. Ah wear it because, well, it's the last reminder Ah have of mah parents."

Applejack's Flashback

I was cuddling my baby sister Apple Bloom like I always did, when my mom and dad came up to me. They asked if I wanted to walk with them and check out the scenery outside.

"Yer mother and Ah were wonderin' if y'all wanted to walk through town and check it out. Granny Smith's asleep, and yer brother Macintosh is waitin' for his friend at the train station, so it'll just be the three of us."

"Sure, daddy, that sounds lahke fun. Just hold on a quick second." I placed my baby sister in her crib, and I joined their side. Little did I know that was the last time my parents and I would ever go on a walk.