A warm wind was blowing through the vast orchards of Sweet Apple Acres, and, as was so often the case on the weekends, Applejack was hard at work, plucking the last of her apples for the day, placing them in the baskets below. Making her way down from her ladder, she placed her hands on her hips, surveying the bare trees all around her, and gained a look of pride upon her face. She had done good work today, and now, she was going to take a well-earned rest. So, picking up her basket, she began to cart it off towards the red barn beside her family home, and when she arrived, she placed it down inside the thing, right next to many other such baskets, which were also full of apples. Smiling at this, she closed up the barn and headed off for her home, entering it and setting off the bell that lay above it as she did so.

Upon entering, she took off her hat for a moment, placing it on a table beside the front door while wiping away the sweat from her brow that had gathered during her work. She didn't bother to say she'd come back, for she knew the bell would have been enough for that much, and so she simply began to make her way over to the nearby kitchen, wherein Granny Smith was busy cooking up a stew for dinner. The older woman gave a smile and a nod to her granddaughter, which was happily returned, before the latter then turned her attention to the kitchen table. There, sitting upon it, was not only her sister, Apple Bloom, but also a visitor to their home; Adagio Dazzle. At present, the eldest Siren was, along with Apple Bloom, looking down at a school textbook upon the table, speaking to the youngster as she did so.

"And then, when Archduke Ferdinand made that wrong turn in Sarajevo, what happened?"

Apple Bloom, now seeing Adagio close the book to keep her from seeing the answer, wracked her brain for it, and after a few moments of Adagio waiting patiently, she watched as the younger girl broke into a smile before turning to her.

"Ooh! He got assassinated, right!"

Adagio smiled and nodded.

"Correct! Thus starting the bloodiest war in human history. Such a sweet story, don't you think?"

Apple Bloom, as well as Applejack for that matter, both raised an eyebrow over the joking manner in which Adagio had said that, eventually leading to the former eventually getting her words out.

"Um...sure. So, how did ah do?"

Adagio, picking up the book, flipped through the pages a few times before turning to Apple Bloom with a smile on her face, tussling her hair in a good-natured manner.

"Well, by my count, you got pretty much every answer right, little one. I'd say you're pretty ready for that test on Thursday."

Apple Bloom smiled at that, looking over to Applejack, who looked back to her sister with pride.

"Hey, sis? Does this mean I can go now? Scoots an Sweetie said they were gonna do something up at the clubhouse fer today."

Applejack considered that for a moment before chuckling a little and nodding, giving her silent permission to go. Leaping out of her chair, Apple Bloom rushed over to her sister, embracing her in a tight hug, which was very much returned. When the two siblings parted, Applejack watched as her little sister rushed off upstairs, no doubt to get ready to join her friends. Granny Smith too was heading off, having set her stew to one side to rest for the time being. That left only the two girls in the kitchen together, and Applejack, after getting herself a glass of water, sat opposite the table from Adagio before speaking to her.

"It was real nice of ya to help Bloom with her studies an all, Adagio."

The Siren nodded at that, leaning back into her chair for a moment.

"Think nothing of it, Apples. Truth be told, it's actually rather nice to help out these days. If you can believe it, I got the idea from Sonata. After her little study session with Sunset, she came back, talking about how "the best" it is that we three know so much about history, having lived so long and all. So, when you said your sister needed help with just that, I figured, why not?"

Taking another sip of water, Applejack nodded.

"Ah gotta say though, it's mighty weird thinking of y'all three as being so much...well..."

It was clear she was trying to avoid offending Adagio, but in the end, she simply blurted it out.

"...older."

But, to Applejack's relief, the elder Siren was not angered in the slightest, and merely chuckled as she brushed aside some of her copious hair.

"I know. Looking like we do, you'd never guess."

At that, Applejack let out a brief laugh of her own.

"Ah bet y'all have had to fend off fellas with a stick fer a long time, right?"

Considering that, Adagio rolled her eyes slightly as her expression became one of annoyance.

"Oh, you have no idea, Apples. Over the centuries, my sisters and I have had thousands of guys coming to call. And a few girls, now that I think about it. It hasn't been as pleasant as you'd think."

Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"Oh? Ah'd have thought you of all people would love the attention."

Adagio nodded.

"The attention? Yes. But you'll soon find that most of the people who rushed over to "woo" us over the years have...how shall I put this...not been of the savoury sort. I'd say for every hundred guys who took an interest in us, only about one was someone we even wanted to look at, much less spend any actual time with."

Applejack considered that for a moment before speaking up again.

"But...y'all did love it when ya did find someone good, right?"

At that, Adagio put on her trademark sultry look, which, as per usual, sent a shiver down Applejack's spine when she saw it. Though she remained silent as the Siren spoke up again.

"Oh yes, very much so. You're probably too young to hear this Apples, but when my sisters and I were actually able to come across some good ones, and I mean some seriously good ones, they were nights we'd never forget."

Grabbing both of her arms, Adagio closed her eyes and bit her lip as a quiver went through her, no doubt remembering those nights quite vividly. As for Applejack, her sudden wave of discomfort made her very much regret having gone down this line of questioning in the first place, and so awkwardly looked away while sipping her water. In mere moments, however, both girls were shaken out of this by a loud cracking sound coming from outside. With curiosity upon their faces, they got up from their chairs and walked over to a nearby window, wherein they saw that it was none other than Big Macintosh, who was busy chopping wood outside. However, in the heat of the day, he'd elected to do so without his shirt, which, as one might expect, left Adagio with that same smirk upon her face.

"Well now...maybe this town isn't as devoid of decent males as I thought."

With her head snapping in Adagio's direction, Applejack looked from her, to her brother and then back again before frowning deeply.

"Whoa there, missy! Mah brother is off-limits, ya hear?"

But, hearing that, Adagio merely let out a giggle.

"Relax, Apples. I was only joking. I know better than to try anything with the relative of one of my inner circle. Too many complications. Besides..."

Looking to her, Adagio just kept on smirking.

"...I doubt you'll have such reservations about dating when you start it."

At that, Applejack gained a fierce blush.

"Wha...ah ain't like that!"

Adagio nodded before replying.

"True. Not yet. But you and your friends are of that age. It'll start, sooner or later. And trust me when I say that, when it becomes known that you six are...available...you'll have more guys knocking on your door than you'll know what to do with."

Retaining her blush, Applejack fumbled her words a little before walking away from Adagio and back to the table.

"Don't be ridiculous! We ain't that popular."

But Adagio shook her head.

"On the contrary. I've known boys a lot longer than you, remember. And like I told our friend, Rarity, the six of you have a lot going for you. Play your cards right, and any one of you could probably have guys melting just from being near you."

Picking up her water again, Applejack drank, not out of thirst, but rather to cool off from the heart that had been rising in her with every word Adagio had spoken. When she finished, she slammed her glass down on the table again, looking to the latter with a disapproving glare.

"We'll date our way, thank ya very much, and when we want, okay?"

Hearing that, Adagio considered her friend for a few moments before shrugging her shoulders.

"Suit yourself. Although..."

Yet again, a smirk emerged upon her face.

"If you disapprove of that sort of thing so much, you might want to keep an eye on your little sister in future."

At that, Applejack raised an eyebrow.

"Wha...what about mah sister?"

Still smirking, Adagio took her place on the other side of the table.

"Trust me on this, friend, I've got experience in this. In a few years’ time, when your sister is your age, believe me...heads will turn."

But, rather than seeming worried, Applejack just let out a hearty laugh.

"Ya don't frighten me, Adagio. That won't happen fer a long time!"

Adagio opened her mouth, ready to answer, only to stop when she and Applejack noticed that Apple Bloom herself had now returned, having come down from her room and was wearing a back-pack, clearly ready to head off and meet her friends.

"Well, ah'm off, sis! Just got off the phone with Sweetie, said they're gonna go and see some new movie with some of the others."

Applejack nodded.

"Well, have fu...wait...others?"

Apple Bloom nodded.

"Eyup. Aside from us three girls, a couple of the boys form our class are comin too. I think she said it was Rumble, Pip and Button, maybe a few others. It'll be really fun!"

Applejack started to gain a look of concern, but was unable to say anything as Apple Bloom, to her surprise, gave her yet another tight hug as a means of saying goodbye, after which the younger girl simply darted out of the front door. Standing there in utter silence, Applejack turned to Adagio, the latter of which seemed to be having trouble stifling a laugh of some sort.

"Oh my! And at such a young age too! Quite a little heartbreaker, your sister."

At that, Applejack narrowed her eyes a little.

"Ah hate ya...so much right now."

But Adagio merely smiled in response.

"That's what makes it fun."