Applejack leaned against her favorite tree. It was right behind the house and it was always shaded. It was as if Celestia had agreed not to let the sun shine on this one spot. And it was amazing! Everyday she found herself sweating from a hard day's work, but she knew she would be able to cool off within minutes of laying back in her spot. And that's exactly what she was doing now.

"Applejack!!"

Her eyes opened a crack. What did Apple Bloom want?

"APPLEJACK!!!"

Applejack stood up. It was obvious that her sister wasn't in trouble. And there wasn't anything important happening today that she knew of. So what could this be about? She walked to the house and entered the kitchen.

"Appleja- Oh. There you are."

Applejack smiled, stretching her hooves out. "What'd ya need Apple Bloom?"

"You got a letter!"

Apple Bloom held up a large envelope. Applejack stared at the parcel for a moment. What could it be? And who from? She had already paid the month's bills. That was all that ever came. That and...

Her eyes widened. It had to be from a family member! She grabbed the envelope and opened it.

Apple Bloom jumped in place. "What is it? What's it say?"

Applejack's eyes darted over the paper for a moment before beginning to read aloud:

Dear Applejack,

It pains me to be the bearer of bad news, but you have the right to know that your

great uncle, Boiken Apple, has passed on. Per his request, he wished for you to

be present for the reading of his last will and testament. The reading will take place

at Boiken's estate at 1776 Goldreign Street, Manehatten, on the tenth of August.

Applejack removed her hat. "Ah Uncle Boiken."

"Who's Uncle Boiken?"

Applejack looked down at her young sister. "He's Granddaddy's older brother."

"But we never knew Granddaddy."

"I know Sugarcube, but Uncle Boiken helped us through some hard times. And he was always a kind soul. He's the one that gave me this hat!"

She held her hat up. "This belonged to Granddaddy's granddaddy. It's been in the Apple family since the beginnin'. And I've worn it proudly for all mah life.

"Wow!"

"But now Boiken's gone..."

"Is there more in the letter?"

Applejack held up the paper again and continued:

Per his request, he wished for you to be present for the reading of his last

will and testament. The reading will take place at Boiken's estate at 1776

Goldreign Street, Manehattan, on the tenth of August. I am deeply sorry for

your lose and hope you will attend.

Sincerely,

Quid Proquo

Attorney

Applejack set the letter down. Uncle Boiken wanted her to hear his will? She knew he had liked her, but he hadn't spoken to her since she was Apple Bloom's age. Then again his health had already been getting bad by that point. Maybe he just couldn't make the trip. And now here was a letter saying he wanted her to be there for his last words. How could she say no?

"What's all the yellin' about?"

Granny Smith hobbled into the room. "Apple Bloom? Why are you yellin'?"

Apple Bloom looked down at her hooves. "Sorry Granny. I was callin' for Applejack. She got a letter."

"Oh. Well I'm goin' back to mah nap then."

Applejack raced over to the elderly pony. "Granny, the letter that came was about Uncle Boiken."

Granny froze, her eyes opening all the way. "Boiken? Well how is the old goat?"

"Granny... He's passed on."

Her eyes drooped again. "Oh. I guess it's not a big shock. He was twelve years older than yur Granddaddy."

Applejack put a hoof around Granny's shoulder. "I've been invited to Manehattan to hear his will."

"Are ya goin' then?"

"I think I should. For Boiken."

"He always did like you AJ. I knew that the moment he placed that hat on yur head instead of his own boy."

Applejack hugged her grandmother. Granny always understood when it came to family.

"I guess I should go pack. The readin' is in four days. It'll take me two just to get to Manehattan."

"You say hi to Boiken's rascals fer me."

--------------------------------

"Can I come too AJ?"

"Apple Bloom, I told ya twice already. I'm goin' on my own!"

"But I've never seen Manehattan! And I could go see Babs!"

"I'm sorry, but this isn't a family vacation."

Applejack looked down at her suitcase. Did she need anything else?

"Brush, scarf, boots.... Oh!"

She walked over to her closet and pulled out an album. Inside there were pictures from the times Uncle Boiken had visited. Even a picture from when he gave Her the hat. That was the last time she had seen him. A tear formed in the corner of her eye, but she quickly wiped it away.

"I have to go alone. But I promise I'll take you to Manehattan one day."

Apple Bloom frowned and walked out of the room. Applejack watched her go, shaking her head when she had rounded the corner. Someday her sister would understand.

She placed the album in her suitcase and shut it. She had such fond memories of that old pony. It seemed like he had visited every month if not more.

As Applejack stood there, lost in her memories, a question popped into her mind. Who else would be there? She had never met any of Boiken's family. Surely his wife and children would be there. She'd get to meet a whole new part of the Apple family! They had never come to any reunions. Why was that?

In fact... She didn't even remember seeing an invitation to Boiken for the last reunion! And she had been in charge of that one! But if he had been sick, he wouldn't have come anyways. And yet... Wouldn't an invitation have still been set out?

Applejack stood up and walked over to Granny's room. She knocked on the door.

"Granny?"

"Whuzzz... Huh? Wha?"

Applejack opened the door slowly. "Granny?"

"Wha iszit yungin?"

"I'm sorry fer wakin' you, but I had a question."

Granny rubbed her eyes and blinked. "What kind of question?"

"Why didn't you send Boiken an invitation for the last reunion?"

Granny's face seemed to sag a little more as she sighed. "Because I knew he was sick. The last letter he wrote to me was that he was sicker than a hog in winter. He didn't think he'd live to see next year. I guess he was right..."

Applejack sat down, shocked at the revelation. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want you worryin'. He didn't like ponies worryin' over him."

That was Granny Smith alright. Always looking out for every family member.

Applejack let her head droop. "I can't believe I'll never see him again. I mean... I know I haven't seen him in ages, but still. He was family."

Granny stood up and hugged her granddaughter. "I know youngin', but everything in Equestria has to pass on at some point. And Boiken sure took his time in doin' it!"

They both chuckled at that. It was true that Boiken had always been stubborn. Everypony knew that he would fend off death by refusing to die just because he didn't feel like it.

Applejack sighed as memories of old Boiken swam through her mind. She was happy he wanted her to be there in the end. And she hoped he was looking down from above, proud of her. And the fact she had kept the hat.

Applejack stepped off the train. The rising sun outlined the buildings of Manehattan. She took it in for a moment. It had been years since she'd seen this city. It sure had changed. She didn't remember there being so many tall buildings.

"Need some help Miss?"

Applejack turned to see a train conductor sitting on the nearby bench. She smiled. "Thank ya kindly, but I'm fine. I just haven't been here in ages."

The conductor chuckled. "The city is quite a change from a farm isn't it?"

"How'd you know I'm from a farm?"

"Well the hat for one thing."

AJ smiled, reaching up to tilt her hat. "My Uncle Boiken gave that to me."

"Old Boiken Apple?"

"You knew him?"

"Sure did! Everypony in Manehattan knew Boiken."

"Really?"

"He used to walk through town, always saying 'hello' to everypony, and never had a cross word to say."

"That sound like Boiken alright!"

"It was a shame to hear about his passing. You said he was an uncle?"

"My great uncle actually."

"I'm sorry for your lose."

"Thank you. Umm... I guess I could use some help. Which way is Goldreign Street?"

The conductor stood up and walked to the end of the train platform. "You see that old building near the Equestria Trade Center? That's Boiken's house."

Applejack smiled. "Thanks."

She jumped off the platform and trotted towards the house.

----------------------------

"1776 Goldreign Street."

Applejack stared up at the old mansion. It almost seemed out of place with a city of new buildings surrounding it. She walked up the steps to the front door.

'Knock knock knock'

The door opened to reveal an older stallion. He looked down his nose at Applejack. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here for the readin' of Uncle Boiken's will."

"Miss Applejack?"

"That's me!"

The stallion stepped aside and allowed her in.

AJ took in the scene before her. She had known Uncle Boiken was well off, but this was so,etching else! She was standing in a grand entry with a huge, winding staircase. The floor was marble like the flood of Canterlot Castle. And the decorations! Statues, paintings, and knick-knacks everywhere!

"Boiken sure had a collection, didn't he?"

The stallion stepped up beside her. "Most of these pieces have been donated to the local museums. Mr. Apple was always a generous pony."

"He sure was."

"If you would follow me, I'll introduce you to Mr. Proquo."

They walked down a nearby hallway with a door at the far end. The stallion opened the door to reveal a study. applejack stepped inside, looking around at the decorated walls. Pictures and awards hung all over. The feeling of the house changed drastically to Applejack. The ornate hallway had seemed so foreign, but this study was warm, friendly, and full of memories.

"Applejack?"

She turned towards the voice to find a pony sitting behind a desk. He had a graying mane and a set of glasses.

"I'm Quid Proquo. Please, have a seat."

Applejack walked over and sat down. "Nice to meet ya."

"Yes. If only it were under different circumstances."

"Am I the only one here?"

"So far. We're still waiting for Boiken's family."

"Who all is there?"

"That would be his wife, two sons, and a daughter. I assume you know them?"

"Never met them actually."

"Really?"

"Nope."

"Hmm..."

"Anypony else."

"No. Just you and his immediate family."

Applejack's eyes widened in surprise. Just her? Why would Boiken want her here? His family made sense, but a great niece? What was the reasoning behind that?

"He must have thought highly of you."

"I... I guess. I only met him a few times when I was a youngin'."

"That must have been enough for him."

He glanced up at her hat.

"Is that... That's Pippin's hat!"

AJ was surprised yet again. "You knew Grandaddy Pippin?"

Quid smiled and pointed up at the wall behind him. "You see that photo with the three rugged stallions?"

She looked up at the wall, pinpointing the photo Quid was referring to. Three stallions stood together in front of a cider stand. They were all smiling and looked like the best of friends.

Quid chuckled. "That's Pippin, Boiken, and me. And that's their first cider stand they ever had. It was on that day that I became their lawyer. I had studied general law in Canterlot and knew that i was destined to help my best friends run their family business."

Applejack stared at the photo. There was the family cider business in its early years. It was pure luck that Pippin traveled to Ponyville to sell cider. And that's when he tasted Granny Smith's zap apple jam. The two became inseparable after that.

"I'm glad to know one of Granddaddy's friends."

Quid sat back down. "And I'm glad to meet one of his descendants."

'Knock knock knock'

The two ponies looked at the door. It opened to reveal four ponies, all of them fashionably dressed."

Quid stood again. "Azalea, kids. Good to see you again."

The eldest pony of the group, Azalea, walked forward and nodded. "Quid."

Applejack looked over her relatives. Every one of them had a sad look. She stood up and held out her hoof.

"You must be my great aunt Azalea. I'm Applejack, Pippin's granddaughter."

Azalea looked over Applejack. "Yes. I recognize you from Boiken's photos. I'm so sorry you had to come."

Applejack placed her hoof on Azalea's shoulder. "It's no trouble. I'm sorry for yur lose."

"Thank you."

Everypony took a seat across from Quid. He looked around at the gathered ponies and cleared his throat.

I Boiken Apple, being of sound mind and body, do herby dictate this will.

I pray that you, my family, are not too heartbroken over my passing.

I would not wish for you to be sad that I lived a long, full life.

May what I have to left to you serve as a fond memory of myself.

To my wife Azalea, I leave my estate that she may continue to live a life of comfort in her final years.

Azalea smiled. "The old goat. I've got plenty left in me."

To my son Pip, I leave five thousand bits and my stock in the Equestria Trade Center.

To my daughter Snapdragon, I leave five thousand bits and the summer home in Las Pegasus.

And to my favorite great niece Applejack, I leave five thousand bits.

Applejack's jaw dropped. Five thousand bits?!

Quid looked up from the will. "Thank you all for being here."

Boiken's family stood up and walked out. Applejack began to follow them.

"Applejack?"

She looked back at Quid. The old stallion was motioning for her to come back.

"There's one more thing."

"Do you want me to call them back?"

"No, no. Boiken intended this for only you."

AJ slowly stepped back, closing the door. She returned to the desk and sat down.

Quid looked back at the will and read aloud:

You have always been a favorite of mine. I did my best I could for your family after Pippin's passing.

Family is the most important thing there is. I'm sure you know that. Which is why I wish for you to know something.

What you are about to hear has never been told to anypony. Not even my brother.

When your Granddaddy moved to Ponyville, I met a mare and we were married within a few weeks.

We started a family, but unfortunate events led to my young bride's death. I was left alone with two young foals.

I am ashamed of what I did, but I sent the foals to an orphanage. But I have kept close track of them over the years.

I wish for you to find my sons and bring them into the family.

Their names are Flim and Flam.