Luna’s moon was nearing the horizon of her beautifully adorned night sky. Under the star light of what few stars still shun the train from Trot About Creek was nearing Ponyville station. “How long ‘til she arrives?” An impatient little filly asked, tugging on her big brother’s tail.

The sturdy big red stallion shrugged. “Not sure.”

The fidgety filly ran on the spot, unable to stay still with the absence of her sister. “She was supposed ta be here…” A loud whistle blowing from the south interrupted her. Apple Bloom quickly turned her attention southward to view the powerful steam locomotive. It was only minutes away from the station, and the little Bloom was full of energetic excitement. “She finally back! Applejack is back!”

“Eeyup!” Big Mac agreed.

Another blow of the horn announced the steam trains arrival at the station. The iron workhorse slowly pulled up to the platform and came to steady halt. A pony with a clock for a cutie mark jumped onto the platform from the caboose carriage and blow his whistle. “Ponyville Station! Everypony departing for Ponyville please do so now!” the conductor announced with a loud voice.

The carriage door slid open and Applejack trotted out of the train. “Hoo-wee, sure am glad ta finally be home,” she said, tipping her trademark Stetson forward a little bit.

A quick blur of yellow and red crash tackled Applejack on the platform. “Applejack, yer back, yer finally back, sis!” Apple Bloom yelled, giving her sister a huge hug.

The loving tackle had Applejack on her back with the energetic filly on top, refusing to let her sister go. “Ah missed ya too, lil’ sis!” she lovingly returned, her forehooves picking her little sister up and lifting her into the air. “Come here an’ give yer sis another hug.”

Applejack squeezed her little sibling tight, electing a giggle from the filly as she was so happy to see her sister. Big Mac trotted up to both his sisters and smiled. “Welcome home Applejack,” he greeted kind-heartedly.

Applejack broke the embrace between herself and her sister. She rolled Apple Bloom off to the side and got back up on all fours. Smiling she gave her brother a hug, putting both forehooves around his neck. “Ah missed ya too, big brother.”

Mac returned the hug and patted her on the back. “So, what kept ya a few extra days? We were startin’ ta worry ‘bout ya,” Big Mac asked.

Applejack was about to answer when another voice from behind them spoke up. “So this is your big brother and little sister ya was talkin’ ‘bout?”

Applejack didn’t even look behind to give her answer. She starred with pride towards her two siblings. “Eeyup, they sure as sugar are.”

Scribble trotted up and stood next to Applejack. “Nice to meet ya both. I’m Scribble Script,” he declared holding a hoof out towards Big Mac.

Big Mac and Apple Bloom starred at the cream coloured guest who seemed to know their sister, confused looks dominating both of their faces. “Applejack, who is this?” Apple Bloom asked.

“Ya haven’t told them yet?” Scribble asked.

Applejack shook her head. “Nope, not yet. Was too busy givin’ ‘em a hug.” She turned to face her siblings and pointed a fore hoof towards Scribble. “This here is Scribble Script. He will be stayin’ with us fer a while, ta help with this year’s harvest.”

Scribble put on a fake smile and waved a hoof towards the siblings. “Hope ya two don’t mind an extra hoof helping?” he asked, hoping the little Bloom and Big Mac would be accepting of him like their sister.

“Eeyup” Big Mac answered. He gave Scribble’s hoof a hearty shake, literally shaking the poor pony up and down, making him dizzy.

“Ah’m Apple Bloom. An’ Ah think it would be a great idea ta have ya help this year! Means Ah get more crusadin’ time!” she revealed, getting so excited at the prospect.

“Crusading time?” a puzzled Scribble asked.

“AAA-PPPPP-LLL-EEE BBB-LLL-OOOOO-MMM!” her sister scolded.

She quickly readjusted her tone and corrected her last statement. “Err, what Ah meant ta say is, we sure would be grateful.” She branded a huge smile to try and convince her sister she was sincere. Applejack wasn’t buying any of it, starring her little sibling down with a disapproving look.

“All aboard,” the conductor called out blowing his whistle again. The train behind them started to power back up, getting ready for the next trip it was scheduled to make.

“Ah think we should continue this chat ova breakfast,” Applejack stated, putting her saddlebags back on. With the agreement of her siblings and Scribble they trotted off the platform, making for Sweet Apple Acres.

The Apple family plus one guest trotted into the farm house and were greeted with a pleasant smell. The smell of breakfast as prepared by none other than master pastry chief Granny Smith. “Applejack. So good ya came back. It’s nice to see ya,” Granny Smith greeted, giving her granddaughter a huge hug.

Applejack was happy to finally be home. She took a seat at the breakfast table with the rest of her family, and motioned for Scribble to join them, as Big Mac pulled up a spare seat.

“Um… thanks,” Scribble cautiously said. He hesitated at first, but soon took the offer to join the Apples at the table, after Applejack gave him a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry, Scribble. We always have extra food cooked up,” Applejack proudly revealed, addressing her comment at the oldest member of the Apple Family.

“What?” Granny asked putting a forehoof to her ear. “Ya want a texture approved?”

“No, Ah said ya always have extra food cooked up, Granny,” Applejack declared a little louder.

“We need more nectar booked?”

Apple Bloom, Big Mac and Scribble could not help but chuckle as Applejack gave up and waved her hooves in the air. “Jus’ forget it, Granny.”

Apple Bloom dug into her pancakes with an extra load of golden syrup on top, followed by the rest of the Apples. Breakfast seemed more a casual social gathering in the Apple family than any form of routine. Scribble let out a little smile, he liked casual and simple more than complicated or formal. “Ain’t ya goin’ ta eat yer breakfast Scribble?” Apple Bloom asked with curiosity, pointing to the large mouth-watering stack of pancakes located in the middle of the table.

“Um…sure,” Scribble stuttered a little. He reached for the stack of pancakes and hoofing himself a few, dropping one on the table in the process.

Applejack rose an eyebrow at this. ‘Seems he is still not really comfortable ‘round the family yet. Ah think Ah might pay Twi a visit afta’ breakfast, an’ see if she can sort this out a lil’.’

All ponies around the table continued to lower the pile of pancakes in no time. Casual conversation dominated the rest of breakfast, mainly directed at Scribble on topics such as his first thoughts on Ponyville and what experience he has had on farms. Scribble informed them of his days working the sugar fields, and he could handle any form of work they throw at him.

Scribble loosened up a little as breakfast neared an end, even managing a little smile. That is until Apple Bloom brought up that certain topic. “So Scribble, why do ya wanna work here instead o’ the sugar farm?” Apple Bloom asked, stuffing her face with the last pancake.

Scribble’s expression went from happy to sad instantly as he clamed up. The atmosphere in the kitchen turned cold really quickly. Applejack knew she had to step in quickly before Scribble melted down again. “Don’t worry y’all, we can address this later on. Me an’ Scribble were up half the night on the train ride, so we could really use some shut-eye.”

Applejack pushed her seat back and left the table, taking a few dishes to the sink as she did so. “Apple Bloom sweetie, could ya show Scribble ta the guest room please?” she politely asked her little sister.

“Sure can, sis,” she chriped, followed by a burp caused from too much apple juice. “Oops, excuse me. Come on Scribble, shut-eye down the hall here,” Bloom informed, motioning with a hoof for Scribble to follow her. Scribble obliged the little Apple, following her down the hall, yawning as he went.

Big Mac gave his oldest sister a concerned stare. “What was that all ‘bout?”

“Ah’ll explain later big brother. Ah need ta go an’ see Twilight ‘bout it first.” She quickly made ready and rushed for the door. “Ah promise Ah will tell ya when Ah back!” Applejack yelled, galloping out the front door.

It was a bright sunny morning in Ponyville, perfect for just about anything anypony had planned. Golden Oak library was already abuzz with action this particular morning. Twilight started to rattle off a list of commands to her number one assistant, as the baby dragon ticked them off a huge check list.

“Order new quills?”

“Check,” The dragon affirmed, adding another tick marker on the long list.

“Deliver Misses Cake’s new book?”

“Check”

“Go shopping for dinner tonight”

“Check”

A few loud knocks banged on the front door.

“Knock on the door?”

“Check…wait, knock on the door…That’s not on the list,” Spike revealed, totally lost in confusion.

Again the front door was knocked on, even louder this time. This Drew the attention of both Spike and Twilight. She giggled pointing a hoof to the front door. “Spike, could you please get that.”

Spike’s face turned red from embarrassment. “Um…sure,” he mumbled, before putting his list down and racing for the door.

Spike swung the door open to see who would come calling so early in Celestia’s morning. “Oh, hey AJ,” he kindly greeted, opening the door for his friend to enter. “What brings you here so early this morning?”

“Howdy Spike. Ah need ta see Twilight. Is she in?” Applejack asked.

Before Spike could even give her an answer a voice called out from across the room. “Over here Applejack. Come on in.”

Spike invited Applejack into the library pointing both of his arms in Twilight’s direction. He put on a cheeky smile. “After you, m’lady.”

Applejack rolled her eyes at the baby dragon as she made her way into the library and towards her friend. “So AJ, what’s do you need? Would you like some tea? Spike was about to make a pot,” she cunningly ordered, swinging her head in the direction of the kitchen. Spike picked up on the subtle hint and made his way into the kitchen, grumbling and complaining under his breath as he did.

After Spike had left the room Applejack began. “Ah need help wit’ a problem Twilight. While Ah wa..”

Twilight interrupted her mid speech by grabbing both of her cheeks and freaking out. “A problem! Oh no, no, no, no, no! What’s gone wrong this time!? Pinkie Pie didn’t cover your barn in custard again, did she!? Did you and Rarity have a fight!? Parasprites aren’t in town again, are they!?” Twilight asked, freaking out over what horrors awaited her to fix.

Applejack pushed Twilight to the ground, freeing herself from Twilight’s grasp and making her land on her flank. “No, no, Twilight. Nothin’ that bad. Ah jus’ need yer advice on a new pony Ah kinda brought back from Trot About Creek wit’ me,” she sternly stated, making sure Twilight knew this was no natural disaster.

“New pony…Wait, just what happened to you down south? You were gone a few extra days. Your family were starting to worry about you,” she asked, getting to curious for her own good.

Applejack spent the next four hours explaining everything that happened, from the events as they unfolded to how Scribble Script is a complete wreck over what Applejack assumed was him being lonely, and other things in his past he had not revealed yet. Time flew by quickly while Twilight and Applejack spoke, so much so it was now lunch time. Spike brought a tray of hay fries for the girls, and offered them refills of their tea. “Thank you Spike. Another refill would be nice. Applejack, would you like some more tea?”

“Nah thanks, Ah’m fine.”

Spike poured Twilight another glass and returned to the kitchen. “So you mean to tell me Scribble lost his shop in Manehattan, and his entire family in Trot About Creek? And he has had no friends his whole life, just rejection and suffering?” a shocked Twilight asked.

“’Fraid so. Least that is what Ah think is the case from what Camper told me. He has hardly opened up ta me. Ah still only skimmed the surface o’ his problems,” Applejack sadly revealed.

Twilight levitated her friend a tissue, while taking one for herself. “That’s horrible. We have to do something to help,” Twilight said, making her last statement sound almost like a demand.

“Ah know. That’s why Ah got him ta come ta the farm and help wit’ Apple Buck season this year. Figured a change o’ scenery might help him open up. An’ jus’ maybe he could make a new life fer himself here in Ponyville… Scratch that, he will make a new life for himself in Ponyville,” Applejack announced with full determination.

“He will?” Twilight confusingly asked.

“Ah made him a solid promise he would have a better life in Ponyville.” Applejack stood up on all fours and raised one hoof in the air. “An’ ya know Ah never break a promise,” she declared with pride.

“Well that’s true. Looks like we will have to help Scribble get back on his hooves if you made him such a promise,” Twilight confessed, scratching her head.

For the next couple of minutes Twilight did nothing but scratch her head, trying hard as she could to come up with a perfect sure fire plan to make Scribble happy. After which she simply gave up. She slummed down onto her flank in defeat. “I might have to call the girls in on this one. You sure brought back a doozy of a problem with you this time around,” Twilight sobbed, not liking to admit she was pegged on this particular problem.

“Eeyup,” Applejack agreed. “But Ah had ta do something. Ah could no jus’ leave him in that state.”

“I know AJ, I know.” Twilight got off her flank and stretched a little, several hours of not moving had made her joints stiff.

“Well, Ah will keep him busy on the farm fer a few days, while ya figure out a plan ta help him.” Applejack picked up her hat and flipped in the air. “Least that should take his mind off his troubles fer now,” she said, as her hat made a perfect landing on her head.

“Okay AJ, that sounds good.”

“Well Ah gotta go, need ta get some sleep befo’ Ah start work tomorrow.” Applejack made for the Library’s front door, giving her friend a hearty wave good bye. Twilight returned her farewell with a wave of her own.

“Spike!” Twilight bellowed out form the library. Spike slowly made his way out of the kitchen to see what Twilight wanted this time. “Cancel our plans for today, and go round the girls up please. Tell them I need to see them all here now, and that it is urgent!” She ordered her assistant in a polite manner.

Spike gave a mock salute and sped out the door.

It was a bright and sunny morning at Sweet Apple Acres, Celestia had perfected the art of raising the sun this fine morning. It was also Scribble’s first morning waking up on the farm. A brand new day was before him, signifying the start of his new life on the apple farm.

Scribble wasted no time joining the Apple family for breakfast. This morning it was oatmeal and raison toast severed with the normal freshly squeezed Apple family apple juice.

The meal was all over and done with right on seven am. Life on the Apple farm did start early, not that Scribble wasn’t used to early farm starts form his past life on the family sugar farm. Applejack took Scribble down to the barn to show him what his task was for the day.

“Righto, today yer on apple buckin’ detail,” she informed as she slid open the barn door. The barn was huge, stocked with all kinds of farm supplies and tools. It really had been a while since Scribble laid eyes on such a sight, bringing a flood of memories back as to his days on the family farm.

“Apple whating detail?” he asked, puzzled by her terminology.

Applejack chuckled to herself for a few brief seconds as she trotted into the barn. “Apple buckin’ detail. It’s what we call harvestin’ ‘round these parts,” she explained while loading up a wagon full of buckets. She placed several dozen buckets into the wagon, making sure they were not too high as to fall off mid journey. Applejack, with a cheeky grin on her face, motioned for Scribble to hook himself up to the wagon.

He rolled his eyes, but obliged Applejack and fastened himself to the wagon. “So, why so many buckets AJ?” Scribble asked, taking another look at how many buckets he was hauling.

“Follow me. This be easier if Ah show ya, instead o’ tryin’ ta explain it.”

Applejack lead Scribble about five minutes from the barn to the western fields. The apples on these trees were nice and juicy red. They sparkled under the morning sun, inviting anypony who saw them to take a bite. She halted Scribble to a stop, and helped to unlatch him from the wagon. “Okay, here is how we do it. Ya place ‘bout four o’ five buckets ‘round the apple tree like so,” she explained with a bucket in her mouth, placing it along with four others she had already set around this apple tree. Applejack than reared herself up to the tree before continuing her lesson. “Now this is the fun part. Ya simply position yerself like so.” Applejack’s forelegs where firmly entrenched into the ground, while her hindlegs were backed up ready for a powerful buck. “An’ buck the apple tree hard.” She proceeded to demonstrate this point with a smile on her face, as red morsels fell from the tree into the buckets.

‘Wow. She is strong,’ he thought, watching Applejack easily make the apples fall from the tree.

“Now not all the apples will land in the buckets, but ya should get most o’ ‘em in,” She instructed, pointing out several apples that had fallen short of the intended target, and now graced the grass with their red presence. “Just make sure ya pick up any lose ones an’ toss ‘em inta a bucket fer Mac ta collect.”

“Mac collects them?” Scribble asked, still getting his hoof around the process they used on Sweet Apple Acres.

“That’s right. Just leave the buckets around the trees fer him to collect. An’ once ya run outta buckets simply go back ta the barn an’ get anotha’ load. Mac will put the empty buckets back in the barn fer ya.” She placed another rings of buckets around the second apple tree. “Now, let’s see ya try a hoof at this.”

Scribble approached the tree and looked it up and down for a second, before turning to face his hindlegs at the tree. He aimed up his target and got into position, just like how Applejack showed him to do so. “Okay, here goes!” he announced, closing his eyes and letting his hindlegs loose. With a mighty thud Scribble’s hindhooves connected with the apple tree, sending several apples plummeting into the buckets.

Applejack was modestly impressed. “Not bad fer yer first go. Give it a few more bucks, should get the rest o’ those apples out,” she encouraged.

Scribble reared up and gave the tree another buck, followed by another, than another. It took him a total of five bucks to finally make the apple tree relinquish every last apple it held hostage. “Don’t worry, sugar. Ya will get the hang o’ it in no time. Now get ta work, we got this whole field ta get done today,” she said, trotting off and leaving Scribble to the task at hoof.

Four days had pasted since Scribble first bucked an apple tree. He was now quite good at the task, bucking every single apple out of the trees with just two bucks, sometimes three is the apples were stubborn. In that time all Scribble had done was work the apples trees, eat and sleep. Despite Applejack trying to give him some time off so he could enjoy the new town he was living in. Scribble refused saying he needed to work in order to pay for his lodgings.

Applejack was no fool. She knew it was just an excuse so he didn’t have to interact with anypony else. “Ah tell ya Mac, that pony jus’ doesn’t want ta do anythin’ but work! He turned inta a right-old machine,” she stated, bucking another apple tree.

“Eeyup.”

Applejack stopped bucking trees for a moment to concentrate on the topic at hoof. “Ah tried givin’ him some spare time, askin’ him ta go shopping with Apple Bloom in town, tried ta introduce him ta the girls…even offered ta show him ‘round Ponyville. He will have none o’ it. All Scribble wants ta do, is work.”

“Hello Applejack, Big Mac. How are you this fine morning?” Twilight asked, as she trotted up to the siblings from the path coming into the farm.

Applejack’s disappointed attitude quickly disappeared into one of happy thoughts as her friend greeted her. “Howdy, Twilight. Me an’ Big Mac jus’ fine an’ dandy. Right big brother?” she happily replied with a smile.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac agreed with his normal one-line response.

“What brings ya down here so early this mornin’?” Applejack asked, surprised.

Twilight glared at her friend for a few seconds, with Applejack branding a cheeky smile in return. “I’ll have you know Applejack, I’m normally up pretty early each morning thank you,” she huffed.

Applejack and her brother shared a little giggle at Twilight’s expense. “Ease up Twi, ya know we only kiddin’. Now, what can Ah do ya fer?” Applejack inquired, interested to see for what reason Twilight paid them a visit.

“Actually, I’m here because I think I might have a solution to our Scribble Script problem. Where is he right now?” Twilight asked, hoping to finally meet the pony in question.

Applejack and Big Mac gave each other concerning looks, ripping Twilight’s smile clean off as she noticed the sibling’s concern. “Scribble ova’ yonder, Twilight,” Applejack said, pointing a hoof towards the western fields in the distance.

Twilight looked off in the distance and saw a cream coloured Earth pony working the apple trees. “That’s him?” She seemed puzzled as to why Applejack and her brother were worried.

“Yup, that’s Scribble,” Applejack confirmed.

Not taking her eyes off Scribble, Twilight voiced her concerns. “I don’t see what the problem is AJ. He seems fine to me.”

“He’s been like that since he started apple buckin’. He only works an’ sleeps. He barely eats. He is pretty much a machine. A lifeless, soulless machine,” Applejack expressed, concern her expression of choice.

Twilight gasped. “Is it really that bad?”

“Eeyup, Ah never seen anypony sink this low befo’ in ma life.” Applejack took a few seconds to pause before saying her next gut wrenching line. “Ah believe if me an’ Camper not found Scribble when we did, he woulda died under that Wattle Brush tree.”

Twilight gasped, falling back on her flank as she did. Her mouth was agape, she couldn’t believe anypony would willingly allow themself to die. “Just…just…just what in Equestria would make Scribble want to kill himself?!” she managed to blurt out, still horrified that somepony could do this.

It was now Applejack’s turn to be upset. She didn’t like the idea of the current situation anymore them Twilight did. Off in the distance, Scribble continued to work away at the apple trees, placing some more buckets down around his next tree to buck. The look on his face was devoid of any emotion, just like a lifeless machine. This was the sight for Applejack, Big Mac and Twilight as they all watched the machine work while talking.

“Ah jus’ don’t know, Twi. Any effort Ah try ta find out his past, o’ why he is so saddened, only ends up with him gettin’ angry.” Twilight listened on with horror. “But as Ah already told ya, Ah think he has been very lonely in life. Ah not sure how much deeper it goes.” Applejack managed a few tears, along with Twilight and even Big Mac. Seemed to them Scribble Script was beyond saving.

“Well, we have to help him and fast. Who knows how long he can stay like this before giving up again?” Twilight announced. She pounced up on all fours, gleaming with a new found determination to help the machine become a pony again.

“Better said than done. But what in tarnation are we goin’ ta do?” Applejack inquired, hoping Twilight came down to the farm with more than just a friendly chat in mind.

“Well that’s why I’m here, right? I think cheering him up a little is a good first step. So I asked Pinkie Pie to throw him a big welcome party,” Twilight proudly announced.

“Pinkie Pie?! Twilight, please don’t tell me ya asked Pinkie Pie fer help?” Applejack blasted Twilight, hoping it was only a joke.

“Yes I did. You know if anypony can throw a party, she can.” Twilight argued.

Applejack was over being annoyed at the issue and was flat-out angry. “Ya can’t let Pinkie Pie throw Scribble a party! She will be ta much fer him ta handle!” Applejack yelled as she trotted over the fence and close to Twilight.

“Well,” Twilight said backing back a little. “Well, I think she can handle it!” Now holding her ground and taking a few trots towards Applejack. “Think about it. We have tried a soft and careful approach up until now. What we need is something different!” Twilight argued back.

Both ponies came to a stop, so close they were touching noses. “Ah agree we need somethin’ different. But come on, Twilight. Pinkie Pie?” Applejack deadpanned, making her point on the party mare loud and clear.

Twilight pushed Applejack forward a little bit in protest. “Think about it Applejack, if anypony can make a friend out of Scribble, its Pinkie!”

Applejack stopped advancing on her friend and took a few hoof-steps back. She thought for a few seconds before producing her response. “Okay Twilight, we can try it yer way. Ah mean…Ah plum outta ideas,” she calmly admitted.

Twilight finally settled down as well, with the standoff over and Applejack submitting, she had no more need to persuade her friend anymore. “Okay, it’s settled then. Just make sure you come up with an excuse to get Scribble to Sugarcube Corner for lunch tomorrow. Me and Pinkie will handle the rest.”

“Ah sure hope ya know what ya doin’, Twilight,” Applejack said, still unsure if this idea would work.

“Makes two of us, Applejack. Makes two of us. Let’s see what tomorrow brings,” Twilight turned flank and made back for Ponyville, with a surprise welcome party for Scribble to plan.