That day that started everything began much as these days do. The brilliant morning sun rose, her sister moon gently lowered until that evening. A gentle breeze wafted through a vast, lush orchard, bringing along with it a fragrant, sweet and distinct scent. A few small songbirds flittered and twittered merrily from above. There was a lone figure they observed, trotting along the well-worn dirt road. The orange mare, however, didn’t quite feel the peacefulness of the world around her. Even though she tried to distract herself by focusing her thoughts on the lovely, cool breeze and warm rays beating down upon her back. However, her mind continued to wander elsewhere.
 
 
Her hooves crunched softly against the rocks and soil, the large cart she pulled behind her trundling creakily along. Her signature, delicious apples sat piled high inside, gleaming in the morning son and bringing with them that mouth-watering, ever-tantalizing smell. Applejack had gathered together a few bushels of her best fruit and was now heading from her beloved Sweet Apple Acres into Ponyville Marketplace. She hoped the village’s citizens were hankerin’ for some delicious apples for breakfast so she’d be able to bring a few extra bits home. Perhaps that would help lift her family’s spirits.
 
 
The past few weeks had been tremulous, and that morning was no different. During a rather large harvest, Big Mac had taken to overworking himself to raise as much money as he could. He’d popped the big question to his beloved marefriend Sugar Belle, and although she was rather insistent she didn’t need one, Big Mac wanted to give her a grand, beautiful wedding. And thus, the enthusiastic, love-stricken stallion mistimed a buck, and smashed an ankle against one of their largest trees. Now, her brother was on strict bed rest to heal. Thankfully, it was a mere hairline fracture, but the doctors warned them if he exacerbated his injury at all, his apple-bucking days were over.
 
 
That meant Sugar Belle was reducing her hours in her bakery so she and Granny Smith could help care for the injured pony. Applebloom had taken to begging AJ to help with harvesting too. After all, she was almost nine and was still only allowed to hold buckets or pick up rotten cores. AJ tried to reassure her stubborn sister that what she was doing was invaluable to the farm, but a teary face and slammed door made it quite obvious Applebloom was unsatisfied with this answer.
 
 
Before she knew it, her ears picked up at the hustle and bustle as the inhabitants of Ponyville began to start their day. A few ponies lifted their hooves and waved to Applejack, the farm pony giving a halfhearted wave in return. Soon enough, she was let into the market and trotting to her usual spot. It wasn’t very busy yet, a few early birds browsing the various booths. Applejack began to set up the baskets and signs. As she was arranging the setup she found herself sort of wishing Rarity was here to add just a little bit of flair. She might just have to ask her when she got back into town…
 
 
Suddenly, her ear flicked backwards as she picked up on a familiar timbre voice. This time, however, there was another one accompanying it. Turning away from her cart, AJ glanced across the way towards the firewood booth, where lumber pony Burnt Oak stood, adjusting a bundle of birch kindling upon his table. Beside him stood another gray stallion. This fellow, however, was slightly taller and wore a long, shaggy mane the color of bark. He appeared much younger than Burnt Oak, but his sharp facial features were quite similar to the other pony. With every small movement of his large, feathered hooves, the muscles beneath his stormy coat seemed to ripple. A few loose strands of hair fell towards his muzzle, and he gave a nonchalant blow from the corner of his mouth. Suddenly, he visibly frowned and turned his head away from the booth - and suddenly Applejack found herself starting into two rather intense blue eyes.
 
 
Blinking in surprise, AJ dropped her muzzle, feeling a rush of warmth invade her cheeks. She’d only been trying to remember where she’d seen this pony. the figment of a small, lanky colt coming to mind, when she started to notice those rather lovely muscles, and that dusty, messy mane. The stoic gray pony turned slightly and muttered something to the older stallion, whose moustache curled into a smile. He said something in return, then gestured towards the farm mare. Much to AJ’s chagrin, she watched as the two began to make their way towards her cart, but she put on her most friendly, helpful smile.
 
 
“Well, howdy-do Burnt Oak! Its ah’ beautiful day out, tha’s for sure! How’s everythin’ goin’ at the mill?” She chirped, hoping beyond hope nopony noticed the blush in her cheeks. Burnt Oak wore his usual gentle smile, but his companion remained stone-faced.
 
 
“Ah, all is goin’ just fine. But it sure has been busy since Ash here got back into town,” Oak replied cheerfully, lifting a hoof and patting the other stallion’s shoulder. “You remember Ash Bark, though its been some time. This little colt is all grown up now.” Oak chuckled affectionately, earning an eye roll and small smile from his son. Now that he was so close up, AJ noticed that Ash’s muzzle and cheeks were sparsely speckled with pale cream freckles, much akin to her own. Another flush of embarrassment rushed through the mare, but she managed to stave it off.
 
 
“O-Oh, yeah! It’s bin so long, ya know. Its nice ta see ya again! What’ve y’all bin up to all these years?” AJ inquired, fiddling slightly with the leftover stem of a golden delicious. At that point, the gray stallion smiled - a small one, but a grin nonetheless.
 
 
“Well, I haven’t saved all of Equestria yet, but bounty huntin’ is still fairly excitin’,” Ash replied. His voice carried a similar air to this father’s - deep and warm. “But I needed somethin’ to occupy me for a couple a’ years.”
 
 
“You undersell yourself, son,” Burnt Oak said, eyes shining with pride. “This boy has been responsible for catching some of Equestria’s worst bandits, pirates, highwaymen - he was recruited by Sheriff Silverstar of Appleloosa himself.” Ash, however, didn’t share his father’s enthusiasm.
 
 
“I wouldn’t undersell myself if I hadn’t let Knife Edge get away,” he growled, expression darkening. Noticing AJ’s furrowed brow of concern, he leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice. “Knife Edge is the one stallion that I’ve managed to let slip through my hooves. He’s a ruthless bandit and doesn’t discriminate when it comes to his victims. We caught the rest of his gang, and they’ve all sung like canaries, but…” Ash shook his head. “Trail has gone cold. The Sheriff heard a rumor he was going to target Ponyville, then head down to the San Palominos and disappear for good. Silverstar sent me down here to keep an eye on y’all’s village. Already talked to Mayor Mare and the Princess, so…we’ll see.” He lowered his eyes, looking frustrated. AJ’s ears dropped against her mane, taking in this new information. Her brother was injured, sister-in-law-to-be focused on caring for him, leaving her grandmother and baby sister rather vulnerable, all the way out there on the farm, on the outskirts of town…
 
 
“Hey, hey, now, don’t you worry young lady. My son’s been doin’ this for years. I know our town is safe.” Burnt Oak said gently, noticing her expression. “How is Macintosh, by the way?”
 
 
“Oh, healin’ and hankerin’ ta get back on his feet. Glad Sugah Belle moved in, keeps him from goin’ crazy.” AJ gave a light chuckle, while Burnt Oak frowned.
 
 
“That means you’ve been keeping the orchards tended to by yourself, then.” He said, looking rather concerned for his best friend’s eldest. AJ kept her smile, though the corners dipped a little.