An Apple for a Diamond

A CRUSHED APPLE FOR A SHATTERED DIAMOND

It had been a few weeks since Rarity and Applejack's passionate love making however as of late it had become increasingly harder to find time alone thanks to Applebloom's inside information that Big Macintosh and Granny Smith were starting to become suspicious of Applejack's lateness at different times and lack of appearance on the farm.

“Ah'm goin crazy here.” Applejack said in a whisper to Twilight as she helped her farming apples in the apple family orchards.

“We're doing the best we can but there's not much we can do. Your family is far more observant than we thought and I think they may be onto us.” Twilight replied in the same whisper as she noticed Big Macintosh walking by a few moments later with a inquiring look for a few moments before continuing on to a tree not far down from them, turned around, reared up, and bucked a tree sending apples falling into baskets.

“I'm gonna take a break if ya don't mind bro.” Applejack said in a causal tone, turned around, and began to walk back towards the farm followed closely by Twilight.

“I'm sure we'll find a decent time for you two to have some time alone together.” Twilight whispered.

“Psst! Applejack!” A voice called out causing the farm pony and purple unicorn to give a look in the direction of a storage shelter to see Rarity standing inside with the door barely creaked.

Before Twilight could stop the farm pony she was already darting for the door, opened it and slammed it behind her. “Dear Celestia, this is crazy! Those two couldn't have picked a worse time to let their hormones do the thinking for them!” Twilight thought to herself in a panicked tone as she looked behind herself to see Big Macintosh trotting up with several baskets of apples in an applecart.

“Say Twilight, have ya seen mah sister? I wanted to ask her if she wanted to take the cart into town today or ah should to sell some apples.” Big Macintosh asked in a causal tone however Twilight being the observant mare she was could sense a very intimating undertone in how he asked this as if he was demanding to know instead of simply asking.

Twilight's mind raced as panicked images of Big Macintosh discovering the two of them ran through her mind and the horrifying consequences of it all. She however managed to keep herself calm and collected despite the overwhelming coldness forming in her chest which felt like it was threatening to cut off her air supply. Twilight's eyes then darted over to the cart then back to Big Macintosh. Had he already looked over there? If not she could easily distract him and cast a spell to make the apple cart disappear then lie about Applejack going into town to sell apples, but if he had already looked over there it would spell disaster and she would be found out for sure.

Twilight gave a silent gulp, it was a gamble she was going to have to take. “I think she's over there.” Twilight said pointing a hoof behind him at which point Big mac turned around to look.

Twilight quickly channeled magic through her horn and cast a spell over the applecart making it vanish from sight and stopped just before Big mac turned around again. “Ah don't see her.” Big Macintosh replied with a confused look.

“Silly me! I forgot that Applejack said she was going to take the cart into town and sell apples when she came back here. So she will probably be a few hours.” Twilight lied using he best poker face she could muster as Big Macintosh gave her an inquiring stare then glance over to the side of the barn where the invisible applecart stood then back to her.

Time seemed to tick by slower than usual as the coldness in her chest was becoming unbearable but she stood firm keeping a strait face as Big Macintosh looked at her as if trying to read her mind.

“Well, when ya see her again let meh know. I need to have a talk with her about running off like that.” Big Macintosh said causing the coldness in the purple unicorns chest to all but dissipate and be replaced by relief...that is until a muffled moan could be hear coming from the shelter behind them at which point Twilight poker face practically shattered the instant she heard it and if she heard it she knew Big Macintosh had.

“Did you hear that?” Big Macintosh asked with a raised eyebrow looking behind Twilight.

She had to think fast but the only thing that came to mind was to mimic the sounds they were making so she so which jolted Big Macintosh's glance back at her. “You okay there Twilight?” Big Macintosh asked curiously.

“Oh yes, i'm fine, it's just that all that work is..ahh....very tiring you know. I'm not a farm pony so i'm not used to working that...uhh....hard.” Twilight said cutting herself off at different times to try and cover up for the muffled moans coming from the shelter.

“But ya used magic to help her out.” Big Macintosh said giving her a suspicious look.

“Well you ahhh....see it's very tiring for a unicorn to constantly use magic like that. It's not as simple as cast ahh...spell when it comes to lifting things. It requires effort on uhhh..our part to but I couldn't expect you know this, ahhh...after all you're not ahhh...unicorn.” Twilight said as the coldness in her chest began to swell up once again replacing the relief she was feeling up till a moment ago.

“Well, then ah suppose you should be more careful when working with mah sister then. Don't want to over do it after all. Bein a farm pony isn't all fun and play. It's a lot of work.” Big Macintosh said with a smile much to Twilight's relief. She was in the clear.

“Dear Celestia! Faster!” A voice erupted which even though the muffled sounds could be heard clear as day coming from the shelter which Twilight couldn't mimic Rarity's voice even if her life depended on it which shattered her poker face completely as Big Macintosh moved her to the side and began to walk up towards the shelter, flung the doors open with a mighty buck and simply stood aghast at what he saw.

“WHAT IN TARNATION?!” Big Macintosh's voice erupted as loud as it could possibly go which might as well have been a fog horn going off as his voice roared throughout the entire farm.

Twilight at this used her magic to teleport herself between Big Macintosh, Rarity, and Applejack.
“Move out of the way Twilight. This here is now none of y'all concern.” Big Macintosh's said his expression a mixture of disgust and anger right now but the purple mare didn't budge.

“Oh it's my concern alright! These two are my friends!” Twilight exclaimed holding her ground even though every fiber of her being was screaming to run knowing how strong Big Macintosh really was.

“There's no need to be protectin meh Twilight.” Applejack said in a calm tone as she stood up, and walked over to Big Macintosh gently moving Twilight to the side.

“You best be tellin meh I didn't see what ah think ah saw.” Big Macintosh said in a menacing tone as he looked down at his sister.

“Nah, you saw it alright. And ya know what? Ah don't care! Go ahead and disown meh! But ya so much as touch a hair on that beautiful mare's mane and ah'll make sure ya live to regret it!” Applejack exclaimed back looking just as fierce as Big Macintosh's was at moment.

“ah certainly hope you aren't proposin what ah think ya are, cause if ya are then this here is goin to beome a regular family feudin.” Big Macintosh replied not backing down in the slighest.

“Big Macintosh please listen to reason. You can't control who a pony is attracted to.” Twilight's began to say only for Big Macintosh to turn and glare at her.

“Ah don't reckon ah asked for ya opion, so ya best be getting ya flank off mah farm before ah do somethin ah'll regret!” Big Macintosh roared which made the purple unicorn cower slightly.

“Touch her and I’ll drop you from fifty feet bucko!” Rainbow Dash's voice could be heard not far away as she and Fluttershy came flying in and landing at the scene moments later.

“How did you know?” Twilight asked looking shocked to see them here.

“Just about everyone in Ponyville could hear him, he didn't hurt you did he Twilight?” Fluttershy said in a worried tone.

“No, I'm fine. But I'm not leaving here till I talk some sense into this hard headed farm pony.” Twilight replied successfully regain her own confidence despite the fear she still felt.

“Ya could talk sense to this horseapple brained twit till ya is blue in the face! And ah guarantee ya nothin would sink in!” Applejack exclaimed still not taring her eyes from the seeming staring contest her and Big Macintosh were having.

Moments later Pinkie Pie could be seen charging through the entrance in the farm with Spike on her back holding on for dear life stopping short of the rest of them. “We came as fast as we could!” Spike exclaimed jumping off of Pinkie Pie's back after she had stopped and ran next to Twilight.

“All of y'all get the hay off mah farm now!” Big Macintosh's voice roared again only for Applejack to give him a swift buck to the face sending the red stallion flying a few feet before getting back to his hooves.

“Your farm?! Who the hay you think has been helpin ya farm these consarned apples?! This here farm is just as much mine as it is yours!” Applejack exclaimed her anger reaching it's breaking point.

“Y'all shouldn't have done that.” Big Macintosh said in a low tone wiping some blood from his bloody lower lip from where Applejack had bucked his squarely in the jaw then began to charge at Applejack at full speed only to come to a screeching halt as red flame erupted out of no where in front of him.

“You forget about me?” Spike said crossing his arms with a fierce look in his eyes.

Big Macintosh then gave a mighty neighing sound before she turned about face before anypony could react and bucked Spike sending the young dragon flying.

“Spike!” all six ponies exclaimed in a horrified tone while Twilight rushed moments after to catch the dragon.

“Let that be a lesson to all of y'all! Ya mess with the apple family and ya get the buck!” Big Macintosh exclaimed looking about the five ponies who remained only for one to be missing.

“Looks like two of y'all got the hint.” Big Macintosh said looking about himself.

“I'm up here you half-brained, egotistical, barbaric, ass!” Fluttershy's voice roared from above him at which point Big Macintosh looked up to see Fluttershy charging in at full throttle and before he could react tackled him to the ground sending him grinding through the ground digging up dirt all the while Fluttershy continued to beat the living snot out of him with rapid hooves to his face.

Big Macintosh didn't stay down for long however managing to buck Fluttershy off only for her to fly up and charge at him full throttle once again missing him and barely evading a head on collision with the ground, taking a steep climb, turned about face and dived at him again within the same moment but this time she lifted him up by the tail and fly upwards.

It was at this point Big Macintosh's anger was quickly replaced by fear as she climbed higher and higher till the farm looked as if it was a small miniature toy version of what it was. “Any last words...punk?!” Fluttershy said having lost all sense of reality as she was consumed by an unspeakable rage at the moment.

“Fluttershy! Whoa! Hold it! He's not worth killing! We don't need to go that far!” Rainbow Dash's exclaimed as she flew up next to her to try and talk sense into her friend.

“Yes, we do! I've seen ponies like him before! They don't care who they hurt! He's no better than Discord!” Fluttershy exclaimed as Big Macintosh who could only dangle was no hyperventilating from a mixture of fear and lack of oxygen from being so high up.

“Fluttershy...I know he hurt Spike, but he's a dragon for Celestia's sake! He can take a buck and keep on kicking! It's not like he killed him!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in a panicked tone still trying to talk her friend down from doing something she would regret much sooner rather than later.

“Ah'm sorreh! Please don't kill meh! Ah'll let them date and all of that. Ah swear!” Big Macintosh exclaimed in a fearful tone.

“Is that the truth or are you just saying so that so I don't drop your flank?” Fluttershy said looking down at Big Macintosh's face which looked scared and panicked at the moment.

“Ah'm tellin the truth!” Big Macintosh exclaimed as tears of fear were now streaming from his eyes.

“I think he's telling the truth, so please put him back on the ground.” Rainbow Dash said hoping that Fluttershy was finally realizing just what she was doing.

“Fine.” Fluttershy said simply and to both Big Macintosh's and Rainbow Dash's horror she let go of the red stallions tail sending him into a free fall causing the red stallion to give a long and horrified yell as he plummeted.

“You didn't to put him on the ground safely.” Fluttershy said in a snooty ton only to be promptly slammed hard by the cyan Blue Pegasus.

“Fluttershy, you idiot!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed before darting down after Big Macintosh.

This slap was enough to snap the yellow Pegasus back to her senses as her eyes widened in horror of what she had just done. “Oh my goodness! Dear Celestia, what have I done?!” Fluttershy exclaimed as she dove down as well attempting to catch Big Macintosh as well as he plummeted towards the ground.

Applejack and the others who were on the ground now could see a faint outline closing in fast at which point the orange mare's anger melted away right then and there and was replaced with horror and fear for her brother's life. “Holy horseapples! That mah brother fallin from all the way up thar!” Applejack exclaimed in a horrified yet panicked tone as she pointed a shaking hoof skyward.

“Twilight, darling, for give my crude language but...Get your damned flank over here and save Big Macintosh's life!!!” Rarity exclaimed in a high pitched and panicked tone at which point Twilight who had already managed to catch Spike with her magic and was looking over him snapped her gaze upward to see Big Macintosh in a free fall with barely fifteen seconds till his impending death followed closely by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash who were flying as fast as they could but would never catch up to him in time.

“Dear Celestia....Hold on Big Mac!” Twilight exclaimed at the top of her lungs channeling magic through her horn and firing a spell at Big Macintosh.

Everypony held their breath as she spell sailed towards Big Macintosh while Applejack slammed her head to the ground and clamped both hooves over her eyes to look away...”He's dead, ah know it...” Applejack thought to herself as a deathly silence quickly replaced Big Macintosh's horrified yelling.

“Applejack open your eyes!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed happily but Applejack refused to for a few moments until she finally mustered the courage to open them.

Big Macintosh stood not far away from her shaking but alive at which point Applejack rushed over to him and hugged him tightly only to get shoved back much to her own shock.

“Get off mah farm Applejack and don't come back ya hear?” Big Macintosh said in a calm yet shaky tone.

“I knew he was full of it.” Fluttershy remarked sourly as she landed next to Rainbow Dash.

“Nah, ah meant what ah said, even if mah life is on the line we on the farm don't take back anythin. We are ponies of our words. Applejack is free to be in any type of relationship with Rarity all she wants but she ain't allowed back on this here farm ever again. So get the hay off mah farm, all of ya, before ah decide to change mah mind.” Big Macintosh said in the same calm and shaky tone as he slowly but shakily trotted off towards the apple family home.

Applejack looked as she was ready to break down as her eyes began to fill to the brim with tears and flood down her cheeks moments later. “Come Applejack...you can stay with me.” Rarity said in a comforting tone as she attempted to put a hoof around her mate only for her to shove it away giving a shocked yet hurt expression as she looked at Applejack.

“It's all your fault! Mah family done disowned me now because of you! Ah don't know what the hay I was thinkin, Messin around with you! I shoulda known better!” Applejack exclaimed angrily as tears continued to flow from her eyes.

“Applejack...how can you say such thing? I've done nothing but care for you! I love you Applejack...” Rarity replied her voice cracking slightly as tears began to flow from her eyes as well.

“Well love ain't gonna fix this now will it? Ah have no family now, and it's all thanks to you! Ah wish I had never even done anythin with ya!” Applejack exclaimed angrily.

“Well I...I...I...well I never! Very well then. Sleep in the rain for all I care! Hmph!” Rarity exclaimed in a snooty tone even though tears could clearly been seen still flooding from her eyes along with a silent sobbing as she ran away from the farm back towards her home.

“Applejack...what have you done? You just pushed away the mare who you love with all your heart!” Twilight exclaimed dramatically.

“Ah didn't ask for your opinion Twi. Now if y'all excuse meh. I need to go visit the Ponyville bank and withdraw my bits to put a down payment on a home in Ponyville before my ex-brother decides to remove me from the account.” Applejack replied wiping her eyes with a sniffle and ran off towards Ponyville.

“Oh my...that didn't go very well at all.” Fluttershy remarked with a sad expression as Spike walked up next to her limping slightly as she did so only recently having come to.

“What happened?” Spike asked in a worried tone looking at everypony now who wore saddened expressions.

“Oh umm..I’ll explain when we get back home. Miss Sheryl is probably wondering what is taking us and we asked her on such short notice to watch the foals.” Fluttershy said kneeing down to let Spike climb up on her back. “Oh dear, I'm going to have to take a look at that when we get home.” Fluttershy remarked noticing the bruise on Spike's chest as he climbed up onto her back.

“I'm fine, really! It'll take more than a buck from a farm pony to do any real harm to this dragon!” Spike exclaimed attempting to make a brave gesture only to wince and grab his sides.

“Dragon or no I'm still going to take a look at that when we get home.” Fluttershy replied as she took off and a groan could be heard from the purple dragon as they took the skies and were soon out of sight.

“Well that could have gone better!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed with a frown.

“Gee, ya think Pinkie?” Rainbow Dash replied in a sarcastic tone as she walked up to Twilight and nuzzled her.

“Isn't there anything we can do?” Twilight asked in a worried tone looking to Rainbow dash then to Pinkie Pie.

“Oh! I know!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed and began to hop around only for Rainbow Dash to halt her in her tracks as she comically ran into her hoof with her mouth.

“A Party won't fix this, Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow Dash said simply at which point the pink mare's ears folded back as she frowned.

“Well shucks...” Pinkie Pie said as she flopped onto her rump and her hair deflated with a balloon losing air sound as it always did when she was very sad.

“Don't Worry Pinkie, we'll think of something. But I think we might want to get off this farm before Big Mac regains his composure completely.” Twilight said giving a apprehensive look towards the apple family's home.

The remaining three ponies then began to leave the farm unknowing of a certain red stallion who was looking at a picture of him and his little sister with tears of sorrow and regret flowing from his eyes...