1. Ash Bark was incredibly excited to be a father. While it wasn't something he'd thought a whole lot about in his bachelor bounty-hunting days, the moment Applejack told him she was pregnant, he was beside himself with joy. There was so much he looked forward to, especially passing down his love of music and the guitar. Ash dreamed of warm afternoons, sitting on the porch with a little colt or filly, teaching them the notes and tunes to his favorite songs. However, that changed a bit when his daughter Juniper Berry was born mostly blind. Of course, there are completely blind creatures out in Equestria that have learned how to master their instruments, but Juniper's attention turned more towards the earth at a very young age.

That didn't mean the two grew apart, though. Ash took great pride in helping Juniper learn more about the world she lives in, how to not only navigate it, but thrive. When she began to show an interest in potion-making, dear dad was often a more-than-willing test subject for her latest concoction. However, sometimes Juniper wished that, she too, had taken more of an interest in playing music. Ash and one of her best friends Jetstream often spend time together, the young colt highly dedicated to learning to play the guitar. With Ash Bark teaching him, Jet's skills soon became quite impressive. Of course, June is incredibly proud of her friend, and doesn't really feel jealous, but she finds herself longing to join their sessions, or at least spend just a little bit more time with her rather busy father.



2. Since she was very young, Juniper has highly admired Zecora. Of course, she's enjoyed her bubble baths, teas, and creams since she was a toddler (the zebra did love to spoil all the new little ones in the village in her own unique ways). However, Zecora was away in Zebrica when Chrysanthemum fell deathly ill. After Juniper and Azurite go and retrieve the life-saving flower, and the farm filly makes the soup that saves her cousins life, she finds the zebra very interested in her skills. When she returns to Ponyville, she offers to give her official potion-making lessons. Juniper Berry, of course, excitedly accepts. Under Zecora's wise guidance, Juniper continues to strive to better her talents and make lotions and potions filled to the brim with herbal and magical properties that can help anycreature feel better.