Ladder. Battalion.

The ever recognizable alarm tones rang through every corner of the station. Dispatch reports fire at the corner of Coltree St and 49th Avenue.

"Oh great, what freakin' time is it?"

The lights switched on in the bunk room, and around me I could hear the groans of the rest of the fire crew. The clock on the wall read 1:57 A.M. "You've got to be kidding."

As quickly as possible, I slid off my bed and into my already waiting bunker gear. While I pulled my coat over the top half of my body, from the corner of my eye, I could see the probie struggling to put his own gear on. "Hey kid, come on! We gotta get a move on!"

After what seemed like an eternity later, the crew made their way down to the hangar and onto the carriage. The sirens were turned on, and we were on our way.

"So probie, you excited?" asked Smokey, one of the other fireponies.

"Yeah, definitely! I mean, this is what I've been waiting for after all sir!"

Captain Pike looked back from his shotgun seat, a stern look on his face. "You remember what you learned in training and what we taught you kid? Don't go getting all heroic, lone ranger on us. That kind of idiocy gets ponies hurt or killed. We're a crew, so we work together, we stick together. Whoever I assign you to, you stay right behind them. Got it?"

"Got it Captain." Bonfire began to mutter something inaudible to the rest of us. No one else seemed to see or mind that he was visibly shaking.

"You okay Bonfire?" I asked.

"What? Oh..yeah, I'm all good, j...just a bit nervous is all sir" he responded, looking straight down at the cabin floor.

"Don't worry about it kid, happens to the best of us, especially on your first fire. Thing is to not let it get to your head so much. Try to keep your thoughts elsewhere until we get there, since it's usually the build up that gets most people. Once we're actually there, training and instinct kick in and every other little feeling you had seems to melt away. Figuratively, of course."

The Captain turned back once again to address me. "Jeez Blaze, when did you become all philosophical? At least I know if I Section 8, I can go to you for some mental tips and whatnot!"

At this, most of the guys laughed, but given that Pike and I had actually been friends since before I went through academy, I was always looking for an opportunity to make some snide remark that would make the rest of the crew "Ooh" and "Ahh" at my apparent bravery, without them knowing of our outside friendship of course.

"Aww, come on Cap," I responded quickly, "If that's what you classify as philosophical, then you should probably consider going back to grade school. Pretty sure there's more philosophy in those old Mother Goose nursery rhymes."

"Bah!" was all he could say.

With victory fresh on my face, I turned to Bonfire. "Alright, just stick with me kid, I'm sure old Pikey would have wanted that anyway. But don't you dare leave my side for a sec." After getting an approval from the probie, my gaze turned to the blur of the street going by.

At this time of night, the streets were mostly empty, save for the few stray  ponies here and there. The wailing of the sirens filled the relative silence of the night and the lights from atop the carriage illuminated the otherwise dark and gloomy streets of nighttime Manehattan. The cold September air felt good on my face, as I opened up the window just a bit. Saturday night in the biiig city. But then again, that was every night. I could never see myself anywhere else.

"Alright, hustle up ladies!" Captain Pike yelled back to us, "We're here and it looks like this one's going to be an all nighter."

As the crew and I exited the carriage, we found ourselves face to face with a raging, smoking....dumpster fire.

"Whoa, probie, stand back, you might get hurt on this one." said Smokey, in a very sarcastic tone.

The crew laughed, but Bonfire held a solemn look on his face.

"You good kid?"

"Eh, I guess I was expecting something a little....larger, sir."

I stared at him for a good few seconds, unsure of what to say. "Well, it's not all blazing inferno's and heroics kid....not to say our job isn't exciting or boring, because by Celestia, we know it's definitely not, but sometimes we just tend to have some slow days, and trust me, you're going to learn to be patient during said days. Heck, I remember when I was a probie, not too long ago, I'd have tours where all I might have gotten was a single call a day and even then it was for some foolhardy pegasus who sprained a wing doing a stupid trick or an over-reacting mom balling her eyes out because her foal got a little scrape."

Bonfire loosened up a bit and chuckled. "Well, okay I guess, but I plan on being the first one in when we get to a real fire sir!"

"Good to know kid, but you'll be the second in if anything, right behind me. But right now, we're missing quality dumpster time."

"Right. Shall I rescue the trash and rats sir?"

I cooked an eyebrow and said to him dryly, "I like you kid, but don't push your luck just yet with that thing you call a sense of humor."

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

"Shut the hay up, stupid thing!"

Unwilling to move, and with my eyes still closed, I smack my hoof around on the nightstand next to my bed hoping to strike the off button on my alarm. After a minute or so of flailing, I finally decide to open my eyes, if only halfway, and strain to see where the off button is. There. "Ahh, finally, sweet silence..."

Normally, I'd have no problem waking up early, but my now concurring restless nights and new night owl habit had made it all but impossible to rise before the sun. Today though, was the first day on the new job, and as Applejack had been so keen to offer it to me, I had to do my best not to disappoint the Apple family. To show them how hard a worker I am. To show them my capabilities. To show her my dedication.

"Whoa buddy," I spoke to myself as I finally crawled out of bed. "Getting a little creepy there, don't you think? Besides, it's just a farm job. Simple, easy stuff....with the most beautiful mare in all of Equestria...Oh Celestia, this lack of sleep is driving me crazy."

Hauling myself to the small bathroom in my room, I take my time grooming myself and stretch out just a bit to limber up before what I was guessing would be a hard day. "Looking good Blaze, looking reeeal good....idiot."

After getting some breakfast, and grabbing my trusty map, I set off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

There wasn't anypony on the streets yet, and Celestia's sun would not rise for another hour. The country air felt nice and clean, as I prepared myself mentally for what would be my first day of work in months.

Finally finding myself at the edge of town, I took my first view of Sweet Apple Acres off in the distance. There stood a hen house next to a well, and behind those two, a red barn house with a purple roof, surrounded by a few small fields of crop. As I approached closer, the sweet smell of apples hit my nostrils. Amazing, compared to the smells on the streets of Manehattan.

Halting at the barn door, I prepared to knock before noticing another stallion coming out from around the corner of the house. His green apple sliced in half cutie mark immediately tells me that he must be part of the Apple family. He seems weathered and strong, but friendly nonetheless.

"Hello there! I'm Blaze. I'm not sure if Applejack told you and your family that I would be your new farmhoof?"

"Eeyup." he returned with a smile. "A.J.'s been speakin' about you non stop since last night. Name's Big Macintosh by the way. Good to meet ya."

"Pleasure's all mine Big Macintosh. And....w-wait what? Applejack's been talking about me?" I asked incredulously.

"Eeyup. Said she met an awful nice colt yesterday and offered 'im a job"

"Oh, right..." I said sheepishly. Big Mac chuckled. "Well, I don't suppose you could take me to her? Unless you need help with something first of course? I'm here to help everypony, of course."

"Not at the moment, so let's go show A.J. yer here."

"Sounds good! I think I can find her on my own though, if you're busy?"

"Hmm...normally that'd be fine with me, but ah think you should follow me to her fer today at least."

As we came around the house, I finally took notice of all the trees in front of me. ALL of them. Apple trees as far as the eye could see, all in neat rows. There could be thousands for all I knew. "T-these are all the trees right in the orchard right?"

"Course not! This is just the South field."

Oh crap.

Keeping quiet as we walked through the scores of apple trees, I took in how beautiful this place truly was. The sun was beginning to come up, and in the distance I took notice of something I hadn't before: The royal city of Canterlot. Having never been to Equestria's capital, I had always wanted an opportunity to go, and since I was this close now, I might have to plan a future trip.

Eventually, Big Mac and I reached a small clearing where I spotted Applejack hauling a cart full of apples towards the barn. Judging by the full cart and her face full of concentration, I could tell she had already been out working for a while.

"Mornin' big brother! Mornin' Blaze! Glad to see ya could make it!" A smile spread across her face.

I responded swiftly. "Wouldn't want to be anywhere else!"

"Good ta hear!" She faced Big Mac. "Alright, thanks fer showing 'im to me Big Mac, ah'll take it from here."

As Bic Mac made his way back to the barn, Applejack unmounted the cart from herself and trotted over to me. She then did the last thing I expected. She gave me a quick hug. Taken by surprise, all I could do was simply stand there and bow my head to prevent her from seeing me blush. Oh, Celestia, she smells like the sweetest apple.

"Hope ya slept well sugarcube. We've got a looong day ahead of us, and ah've got plenty a things to show ya."

Applejack began to make her way back to the cart, but I darted right past her and mounted the cart onto myself.

"As a gentlecolt from the fine city of Manehattan, I believe it my duty to assist a lady in any way possible." I said almost nonchalantly.

"If ya say so, Blaze, Pony Extraordinaire!" she sneered in a playful manner.

"Oh...I guess Twilight told you about that...." I could feel my face burning with embarrassment.

"Well," she laughed, "duh."

Next Chapter: Awkward Estimated time remaining: 7 Minutes