It had been a couple of days since the concert in Canterlot Cathedral, but Sweetiebelle was still on cloud nine from having finally achieved her goal to get her cutie mark. The other crusaders had spent much time with her in planning their next event to try and get their marks as well. But as we know, life will always take away from leisure time to bring us back to reality. Sadly for Applebloom that was this entire week.

"Ah can't believe Granny Smith is sick." Applebloom sighed as she watched AJ bring a tray of food up the stairs and into Granny Smith's room, staying close behind to see if she could help.

"Granny Smith's a tough ol'cookie AB, no need to worry'bout'er while yer sis is on the job." AJ smiled giving a wink to her little sister.

Applebloom stepped over to the side of her grandmother's bed hopping her front legs up onto the side as she watched her slowly eat her breakfast.

"You sure yer gonna be ok granny?" AB asked giving a sad expression.

"Sure as sugar darlin. Ah just hope it's afore the zap apples'er ready teh harvest." She smiled looking down to AB giving her head a gentle rub.

"Shouldn't the zap apples start up soon though? Ah mean, what happens if ya cain't help us make the zap apple jam?" AB sighed looking rather worried.

"Now don't fret none AB, Big Macintosh'n me'll be right there teh do the harvest." AJ smiled giving her sister hope.

Later that day after Applebloom had come back from crusading with her friends, she walked along the path heading toward the farmhouse to have supper before she went to bed that night. Upon entering the farmhouse though she was not greeted with the smell of dinner, or even the faint smell of leftovers. She was greeted with only silence.

"Now that's a bit strange, ah though sis was supposed to cook dinner tonight?" AB spoke to nopony in general as she explored the downstairs of the farm house before heading upstairs.

"Sis? You up'ere?" She spoke out a little louder than her normal tone only to hear a loud cough coming from down the hall.

Applebloom headed slowly down the hall before finally reaching AJ's room, slowly pressing the door open to see AJ laying in bed and her uncle at her side.

"Sis? Uncle Midnight?" What's going on?" She asked as she trotted up to Midnight while looking to her sister.

"Yer sis has caught a mean cold." Midnight spoke up as he floated the thermometer from AJ's mouth to in front of him to see her temperature. "Got a fever to." He sighed. "Looks like its gonna be bed rest for the Apple family for a week. since you won't let me use my magic to cure you." He groaned.

"The Apples never needed magic teh cure a cold before, an they don't need it now. We like the ol'fashioned method, plenty'o bedrest and some good vittles." She smiled before coughing a few times.

"But AJ, the..........." Applebloom trailed off as a loud howl echoed from outside. "Oh no! The first sign!" Applebloom shouted as she looked to her sis.

"Sorry AB, looks like yer the only Apple left teh take care'o the zap apple harvest." AJ sighed feeling defeated.

"I can help." Midnight smiled looking down to Applebloom who just beamed back before looking to her sister.

"Now ya know only Apples are allowed teh do the harvest AB." AJ looked at her sternly causing her to pout. "It's a good thang Night asked meh to be his marefriend. I don't think we could do it without him." She smiled up to the Alicorn who just gave a wink back while smiling to his niece.

"Come'on Uncle, let's get cracking." AB shouted as she bolted from the room to downstairs.

"But what am I supposed to do?" He asked looking back to AJ for the answer.

"AB can fill ya in, she's done the harvest many'o times." AJ smiled as she laid back into her bed, Midnight placing a cold washcloth over her eyes as she gave a contented sigh.

After making his way downstairs he watched as Applebloom dragged a few kettles from teh kitchen along with some large metal dipping ladle.

"Here." AB said as she hoofed a large pot and ladle to him before carrying her own out the door. Midnight stood there with a cocked brow before following her outside.

"AB? What's this for?" He asked just before she started to bang loudly onto her own kettle as it hung from a nail placed into the side of post on the porch.

"We gots teh scared away the Timber wolves." She spoke up as she continued banging on the kettle. Midnight shrugged as he pulled his own up with his magic and began to beat on it as well. After a short time the howls ceased causing the two pot banging ponies to halt their assault on the kitchenware.

"Alright! That was the first sign." AB smiled as she trotted back inside with the pot and ladle on her back.

"First sign of what?" Midnight asked as he followed suit into the kitchen to replaced the kitchenware.

"The first sign of the zap apple harvest of course." AB smiled only to get a questioning stare from her uncle.

"I don't know about Zap apples AB, remember? I've only been here for just over a year. I didn't come by the farm last year when your family did the harvest, think you could teach me?" He smiled down to the little filly who beamed back.

"Ah sure can! Granny Smith done taught me all ah need teh know'bout harvesting the zap apples an making the jam." She smiled.

"Well I will have plenty of time to learn because I'll be taking care of everypony while helping you this week." He smiled back.

"Alright then. It's late right now though. Ah best be gettin teh bed so ah can start preparing tomar fer the rest of the week." AB smiled before giving a large yawn and heading upstairs.

"Guess I had better go check on the others before going to sleep." He smiled as he headed upstairs.

XXX

The following day was like the rest as Midnight got up early to make breakfast for the Apple family and serving it to them in bed while Applebloom ate in the kitchen before heading outside followed by her uncle.

As the pair walked toward the few acres of Zap apple trees, Applebloom began teaching Midnight all about the zap apples and what to look for.

"Alright uncle, tehday is the second day fer the zap apples teh grow, it takes five days afore they are grown and ripen so ya gotta know all the signs." She smiled as they trotted into the center of the large zap apple orchard.

"So what's the second sign?" Midnight asked before hearing a soft crackle as little bolts of electricity could be seen flowing over every tree in sight. He stood in awe as leaves began to pop up slowly all over each and every tree until they were completely covered in them.

"That would be the second sign." Applebloom giggled seeing the look of shock on her uncles face before trotting back to the farmhouse.

Once they had arrived back at the farmhouse Midnight followed the filly into the barn as she instructed her uncle to start loading a few carts with empty bushels for the harvest three days from now. Upon finishing he was then instructed to gather watering cans so that they could water the trees before the apples could appear. But with a little bit of magic he created a small portal around a gardening hose so that it could be pulled to each and every tree to water them without all the extra work. This impressed Applebloom because it would normally take a full day to water each and every tree in that specific orchard.

Once the watering had been finished Midnight replaced the hose before grabbing the wagon with the empty bushels and began to place several of them around each tree. By the time they had finished it was already lunch time. Applebloom was the first to acknowledge this by the loud rumble coming from her belly.

"I guess lunch is in order." Midnight smiled as he hoisted the filly onto his back and trotted back into the farmhouse. Applebloom jumped down as he entered and headed upstairs to check on the other Apples.

"Granny Smith? You awake?" He asked as he knocked gently on the door before entering.

"Ah'm awake sonny, come on in." She smiled while speaking in her frail voice.

"It's time for lunch, want anything specific?" He smiled.

"Just some mater soup'n'crackers sonny. An a glass'o tea." She smiled weakly to him, he giving a nod in return as he left heading into AJ's room doing the same then to Big Macintosh's room before heading downstairs into the kitchen.

"Alright AB, anything specific you want for lunch?" He smiled as her eyes lit up and she began to speak. "Except for sweets." Midnight smirked causing her to pout.

"Ah guess dome dumplins sound good." She smiled.

"Your sister asked for the same thing." He chuckled as his magic went to work as items began to float all around the kitchen to start on each of the items requested.

After a good hour all of the food had been prepared and was being served. Applebloom was the first as she was already in the kitchen. Midnight placed a steaming plate of dumplings onto the table as Applebloom began to blow on them to cool them down. He made his way upstairs to Big Macintoshs room first, placing a tray with pancakes and a couple muffins along with a glass of apple juice in front of him, he giving a nod to the Alicorn in thanks as he exited the room and into AJ's room. Upon entering Aj was already sitting up in bed with a tired expression and bags under her eyes. She gave a deep sniff smelling the dumplings as Midnight placed the tray onto the bed and giving her forehead a kiss.

"Thanks Night, yer to kind teh me at times." She chuckled.

"I can stay and feed you if you want." He grinned causing her to blush.

"Nah, ya kin feed Granny though, I'm sure she's a mite too tired teh do it herself." She smiled as Midnight gave a chuckle heading into Granny's room.

He slowly set the tray onto the bed as she pulled herself slowly into a sitting position. Midnight placing a straw into her drink so that she wouldn't have to fumble it with her hooves and accidentally spill the contents.

"That mater soup smells a mite fancy sonny. What ya'll put in it?" She asked while looking at it.

"My own recipe, I'm sure you'll like it." He smiled while placing a spoon into the steaming soup and pulling out some before blowing on it to cool it down. Once it cooled he floated it to her mouth as she took another deep breath of the aroma before wrapping her lips around it. Midnight watched with a satisfied smile as Granny Smith's eyes lit up at the wonderful flavor of the soup.

"My goodness, that's probly the best mater soup ah ever had." She smiled as Midnight continued to feed her.

"Night? Can you come'ere fer a sec?" AJ spoke up catching his attention. He looked back to granny who just smiled and waved him to go check on AJ.

"What's up?" He asked as he came into the room but stopped as he saw the blush across AJ's face and the empty plate of dumplings. "Want seconds?" He smirked seeing her give a sheepish nod.

"Them's the best dumplins ah ever tasted Night, ah didn't know ya could cook that good." She giggled.

"Don't thank me, It's my great grandmothers recipe. It actually tastes better with all of the organic ingredients of this world is all." He chuckled as he headed back into the hall and into Granny Smith's room to see her sitting back in her bed with a smile and an empty bowl on her tray.

"Would you like seconds too Granny Smith?" He smiled seeing her nod. "Them's some good vittles sonny, ya'll'll have teh share that recipe with the Apple family." She smiled giving him a wink.

"It'd be my pleasure." He smiled before heading back downstairs to get their second helpings. Upon arriving in the kitchen however he noticed that Applebloom had gotten a second helping as well. She smiling up to him as he chuckled.

After giving them a second helping and cleaning the dishes he went back to check on the three sick ponies to see them all sound asleep. "Good food will do that to ya when yer sick." He chuckled softly before heading back downstairs to see Applebloom passed out on the couch. He gave a smile as he pulled a cover from nearby and placing it onto her gently.

"Guess I can sit back and relax until dinner." He smiled as he pulled a book from his stash portal and began to read.