The sun was barely over the horizon, but a certain farm pony was already up doing some chores. The previous day she had slacked off and now she was paying for it. Applejack wiped the sweat form her forehead and looked up at the sky, the sun was just now in full view and she could vaguely guess the time.

"Hmm, looked like it's almost noon..." The orange pony said as she looked over at the field she had just finished plowing. She had awoken before even the roosters had began their morning call to not just finish all the work she had to do for the day, but to go back to Fluttershy's place again. Partly to see how she was doing since their meeting the day before had to end abruptly, and partly cause she had a strange feeling Flutterbat did something strange the night prior.

"Well, ah figure it might be time to start doing some apple buckin'." Applejack said as she began to trot towards her apple orchird, her pride and joy in life. Placing baskets under some trees, she began to kick the trucks with her hind legs, knocking almost all the apples off the tree at once. Most ponies think apple bucking is easy since all that is done is kick a tree, but it was more complicated than that. Unless you manage to kick the tree just right, you could either hurt yourself, or the tree. Neither of which was a favorable option. The farm pony continued to buck trees until she had about eight basketsful of apples, which she proceeded to carry over to the farm to store.

Waiting for her at the apple storage was a breakfast plate, something she really wasn't expecting. Upon closer inspection, Applejack noticed a note attached.

Hey bis sis!

Big Mac told me that you were probably gonna get up early tomorrow to finish the chores from today and we both knew you weren't gonna eat anything for breakfast, so we decided to make ya something tonight and leave it here until morning! Don't cha worry, Big Mac also helped me make it, I know how ya'll don't trust me with the kitchen after that one incident and all.

Applebloom

Looking at the note and breakfast, Applejack couldn't help but smile. She so loved her family, even more when they looked after her, something she was accustomed to do herself. She took off the cloth covering her breakfast to find a sandwich with a variety of sides that clearly did not go together with the main meal, but ate it all anyway.

After finally catching up with her work, she decided it was high time to head into town, today was Wednesday and so it was sales day. Packing the wagon she was all too accustomed at pulling with the quick assembly sales stand and plenty of apples, Applejack made her way into the now busy streets of Ponyville. As the farm pony walked with a unusual hop in her step, the townsfolk greeted her.

"Starting a little late today?" One pony asked as he passed her.

"Mornin' was a little rough, but Ah'm catching up." Applejack responded with a smile. She was usually very on schedule so when she was off key even a little, ponies tended to tease her about it. Nothing mean, just to play around a little. Once she got to the market place Applejack did her usual thing, she set up the stand and decorated it with freshly picked apples with the ones from the previous sales day mixed in to make sure they were sold as well. Some might call it cheating a little, but applejack never purposely gave her costumers the older apples, they were free to choice whichever were on display and if they asked her for an opinion she always offered the most ripe and fresh apples.

Some time passed and every pony must have been exceptionally hungry since practically all of her merchandise was sold safe for one apple. As Applejack began to close up shop, she hear something in the distance, her ears perked up when the name 'Fluttershy' was mentioned.

"I'm telling you I saw Fluttershy with evil red eyes and fangs and evil looking ears and devil wings and and and you HAVE to believe me!" Applejack's stomach sank fast then uncle Cinnamon Apple's self constructed boat after 8 barrels of ciders 2 family reunions ago.

Leaving her supplies behind, the orange mare dashed over to where the sound came from and remained behind a corner while she listened to who she now recognized as Lyra and Bonbon.

"This again? Lyra I told you that you were just stressed out form that prank that was pulled on you."

"But you said you saw that Fluttershy had red eyes too right?"

"Well yes, I did see a tint of a red color in her irises, but it was dark, it was probably the lighting or something."

"But how do you explain the scarf that she was wearing so weirdly? She was trying to hide her ears and fangs!"

"Oh maybe she was just cold? Seriously Lyra, you acting like a filly."

As the pair continued to walk their route Applejack remained concealed. When they finally did pass, she sighed in relief.

"What in tarnation was Flutterbat doin' lastnight? Thank Celestia it was just Lyra who saw her." Lyra was never taken very seriously after her last 'human' incident. This would probably pass over...at least she hoped it would. This was definitely the last time she allowed the bat pony to stay alone, but speak of the devil and he shall appear, well, the angelic part of the devil it seemed.

"Are you alright Applejack?" A sweet voice asked from behind her. With a quick jolt of the body the farm pony looked back to see Fluttershy with a saddle of supplies no doubt for her little critters. With a second to clear her throat, the blonde mare responded with a composed tone.

"Yeah, never better. Just, ya know, taking in the town gossip..."

"Oh? I never took you for a mare into that kind of stuff." She responded as she stepped closer, as she walked, however, there was a slight limp in her movements.

"You alright sugarcube? Yer walking a little funny."

"Oh, yes. I'm just a little sore this morning, not sure why. It's almost like I spent all night doing some spring cleaning." She added with a smile. "After I'm done here I think I'll head home and take a quick nap."

"Sounds like a good idea....That way ya can stay up later and Flutterbat won't be around to pester no pony" She managed to say under her breath, soft enough so that her friend didn't hear her. They chatter for a little bit, just a simple catching up on the day's work and agenda before saying their good byes and getting back to their routine. Finally getting back to her stand, she took the apple that was left over and thought about eating it herself, but with the large breakfast she was given, she wasn't all that hungry. The first pony that came to mind was Fluttershy of course, with a sore body she was sure she could use an apple of two. That in mind, she rushed home and finished up what was left of her chores before getting a small saddle of apples to take over to her friend.

Again she had a certain joyful hop to her step as she trotted over to Fluttershy's cottage. After all, it was always nice to visit a friend, something she solemnly had time to do with chores and work always getting in her way. The road to her cottage was generally short since Applejack decided to take a short cut through the woods and over a few rivers that were no fuss to jump over once she climbed a tree or two. Since both of them living in the out skirts of Ponyville, it was much faster to go around the perimeter of Ponyville instead of crossing through the busy streets of it. That being said, Applejack would arrive from the east side of the cottage instead of the path that leads to her front door.

As she crossed over the small creek surrounding Fluttershy's home, she couldn't help but see a silhouette on one of the windows move around. It was probably just Fluttershy and that she was awake, so Applejack wasted no time going up to her front door and knocking. As she stood there waiting for answer, the sound of rambling and clutter was heard from the inside.

"Uh...Fluttershy? Ya alright in there?" As if her voice was that of a savior, a call from inside came almost as soon as her words had left her lips.

"Oh Applejack it's you! Please come inside I need your assistance!" The orange mare knew that wasn't Flutterhy's voice, much to loud to be, but she definitely recognized it. With a quick kick, she bucked the cottage door open to find Flutterbat flying from corner to corner of the ceiling, avoiding the objects being thrown at her from the small animals in there.

"This animals are crazy!" The bat called out as she ducked, avoiding a pan that had been thrown at her by Fluttershy's dear Angel Bunny. Next Chapter: A Sweet Night Estimated time remaining: 11 Minutes