When I was a colt, I’d always complain to Pa about how the morning sun shone in the window. He’d always laugh, tousle my mane, and tell me, 'Don’t let it worry ya none, Mac. Sun’s just doing what it knows.’ I admit, some mornings it was hard to feel anything but annoyance, but I owed it to him to never forget it. Then there were mornings like this, when I didn’t have to wake up early, and I could lie in bed and enjoy the sun on my coat. The harvest was in for the winter, but the snows weren’t scheduled for another two weeks.
“Big Mac! Are you up yet?” Applejack shouted from downstairs. I didn’t even flick an ear at the tone of her voice.
'Welp, looks like it’ll be one of those days again,' I thought with a sigh as I rolled out of bed. The floor groaned in good-natured protest as I crossed to my dresser, my yoke on top where it always was. Well it wasn’t really my yoke, it still belonged to Pa, had his name and everything. I was just keeping it for when I got to see him again. As the door swung open, the faint thunder of hooves on wood was my only warning as a yellow missile shot down the hall. Fortunately, this missile made this same trip just about every morning, though during the school week it took its sweet time about it. “Mornin’, Apple Bloom. And what’s got you in such a hurry?”
“G’mornin Mac!” she hollered as she galloped down the stairs. “Ah’m meetin’ Scoots and Sweetie Belle for some crusading! We’re goin’ rock climbing today!”
I followed her on down to the kitchen, the smell of fresh pancakes making my stomach growl. “Breakfast smells good AJ, thanks for makin’ it.” I took another whiff of the pile as I set out my cushion. AJ really had outdone herself this time: the pancakes were just the right shade of gold, with little dark spots for the blueberries.
“You’re welcome, though I can’t stick around. Twilight says she’s got somethin’ important to tell us and we all need to meet up at the library as soon as we can. Milk’s in the icebox, you got the chores handled?” she replied as she headed for the door.
“Eeyup.” I’d finished them the previous day of course, and she’d even helped, but I couldn’t hold it against her for not remembering.
She stopped in the doorway. “And don’t let Granny sleep all day. Ain't healthy for her.”
“Don’t worry, AJ, I got it,” I mumbled around a mouthful of pancake. “Y’all have fun now.”
“Ah’m goin’ out too!” Apple Bloom mumbled around a mouthful of pancakes. “Maybe today we’ll finally get our cutie marks!”
I smiled at her and tried my hardest not to look at the mark that had adorned her flank for the past two years. “Just be careful, Bloom.”
“I will! See y’all for supper, bye Granny!” she shouted as she galloped out the door.
The kitchen was quiet as I finished my breakfast and put the leftover pancakes into the icebox. I started to head outside, but paused to give the rocking chair in the living room a glance. “Hold down the fort, Granny.”
The chair, empty for nearly a year now, creaked mournfully in response.
It was just another day in Ponyville.
I frowned as I came up on the bridge into town. Bon Bon and Cherry Berry were side by side, hitched to their garbage carts. The odd part about it was how all of their garbage lay scattered about on them, the bridge, and the stream. From the looks of it, they’d been upended from behind, and with one heck of a buck to boot.
“And so the dog says to the mule—” Cherry stopped as she saw me. “Oh, good morning, Macintosh. How are you doing?”
“Umm... fine.” I tilted my head toward their carts. “Any chance y’all can let me by?”
“Oh, sure.” Bon Bon replied as she pulled the cart through the garbage out of my way.
I couldn’t help but wrinkle my nose at the smell as I picked my way through the refuse. “And you’ve got... whatever this is under control?”
They looked at me in confusion for a second before Cherry laughed. “Oh, of course. Fluttershy just got a little excessive, is all.”
I almost didn’t believe them. But Fluttershy had done something similar not three weeks prior, so I simply nodded. “Alright then. You ladies have a fine afternoon.”
They smiled as I left, and I shivered a little at their too-cheery vibe. I kept an eye on them until I’d rounded the corner, and finally allowed myself a sigh of relief. “Okay, that’s a new one.” I decided to skip the market and continued down Juniper Avenue instead. Hopefully that’d be a quieter trip.
“Run! They’re eating everything!” Roseluck screamed as she galloped past me. A second later, I heard a loud crash, and looked down the street to see her flower cart laying on its side. A hoof stuck out from under the pile of flowers, and I rushed over to help. Careful not to scratch, I brushed the roses off and dragged Lily free of the debris.
“Are you okay, Lily?” I asked as she started to stir.
“It’s awful... the horror, the horror...” she muttered, staggering as I helped her up. “Those horrible paraspr—” She stopped abruptly, staring at a point just beyond my shoulder. Her eyes widened and she screamed, before bolting in the same direction as Roseluck. “They’re coming! Run for your lives!”
Despite myself I swung my head around, coming face to face with a parasprite. It buzzed its wings at me, tiny teeth glinting in the noonday sun. The only parasprite. It blinked at me, then buzzed its wings again and took off.
‘Alright, just ignore it, Mac,’ I thought to myself as I brushed stray flowers off.
“Well hey there, big guy,” a sultry voice from behind me half-whispered.
I’m not ashamed to admit I went stiff as a board. Turning slowly back around, I saw something that simultaneously enticed and horrified me. “H-hullo, Miss Cheerilee.”
She stood there, eyes half-closed and tail twitching. That was the enticing part. What grossly outweighed it was the glint in her eyes. I remembered it well from before; her claims that Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle had drugged her. “Ummm, Miss Cheerilee, I don’t think—”
“Oh Mac, I can’t stand to be apart from you!” She shouted, breaking into a gallop towards me. I braced myself... and watched her plow headlong into the pile of roses, wincing as I saw several thorns claw at her coat. She raised her head confusedly, uncaring of her injuries. “Mac? Where’d you go?” She froze as her gaze fell on a pile of bricks further down the street. “How’d you get over there?” She smiled again and clambered free of the roses. “Playing hard to get, eh?” She giggled as she broke into another gallop.
I stared at her, my mouth hanging open slightly. “Eeeenope.” It was definitely time to get out of town.
I settled onto the hill, the grass warm under my flanks as the wind ruffled my mane. Pa’d always bring me here when I was little, and I often found it easier to think when I made the same old climb. And as the town had started getting stranger, the hill became my little getaway spot. The view of town was spectacular; I could even see the rolling fields that stretched up the valley towards Canterlot.
Ignoring it for the moment, I turned to the apple tree beside me. It wasn’t the tallest tree in town, but had stood the test of winters and parasprite infestations in the way trees do. Pa had told me the story of the tree, how his father had planted it on the first anniversary of Ponyville’s founding. To this day, no harvest touched the tree, save for the family reunion.
Not that we’d had one in a good long while.
The thought of family dragged my eyes down to the round stone half-buried next to the tree's trunk. I decided it wouldn't hurt anything if I took a little time, so I pried the stone out of the moist soil, set it gently aside, and dug below where it had been. A short distance down, my hoof scraped on metal, and I lifted the stained metal box free. I’d left it unlocked after the last time, when I forgot where the key had wandered off to. Apple Bloom was the likely suspect.
As I lifted the lid, the smell of the letters wafted out, reminding me of writing lessons with Ma on the kitchen table. Careful to wipe my hooves, I lifted the stack out. I shuffled them until I held the oldest delicately in my hooves. A faded picture was held to it by a clasp, showing the family standing together. Before Ma and Pa had left to go help on the Fillydelphia apple farm. It showed all of us standing together: me, AJ, Bloom, and Granny Smith. Bloom was about eight at the time, just starting to wonder when she’d get her cutie mark.
I set the picture back in the box and looked at the first letter.
Mac,
Your father and I reached the Fillydelphia farm this morning. I know you wanted to come this time, but Granny Smith’s going to need your help with the farm. Applejack’s bucking technique still needs improvement, and Granny’ll be busy with Apple Bloom. Just be a big colt and look out for everypony, okay? Your father and I will be home before you know it.
Love,
Mom
I sighed, and put the letter back. Unfolding the second, I felt the corner of my mouth twitch up despite myself. The picture in this letter was of my parents, with a beaming colt sitting in front, a too-big cowpony hat perched over his head. The hoofwriting was clearly Pa’s; he’d never picked it up like Ma had.
Howdy Son,
Work on the farm’s goin’ well. Your cousin Braeburn insisted being in the picture, since you couldn’t come. He’s mighty sad you didn’ “keep a cowpony promise” or somesuch.
Harvest is goin’ well, we should be finished up ‘fore the week is out. Got an infestation of fruit bats in the west fields, but Uncle Crab thinks that we can deal with it. Hope he’s right. Those bats bite somethin’ fierce.
Luv ya,
Pa
“Sorry Brae, I’ll keep that promise eventually,” I muttered. I looked up as I heard screaming, a herd of dots frantically stampeding its way down South Main. Squinting, I could barely make out an even smaller purple dot pursuing them. Looked like Spike had “grown big” again. Although, I’d learned the hard way that his messenger flame was troublesome no matter his size. At least there’d been a couch for me to land on.
Ignoring the wailing, I opened the next letter.
Son,
We’re going to be here a little longer. Turns out the fruit bats had been breeding longer than anypony knew. We’re making progress on dealing with them, but the west fields might be lost. Crab Apple’s furious. How are you doing? We heard something was found in the Everfree, some big artifact or something. There’s even talk of the Princess visiting to see it. Be sure to wear your best for if she visits!
Love you,
Mom
I dimly remembered somepony talking about whatever it was they found in the Everfree. I never saw it. Three days after it was found, the first ponies started acting strange. A week later, the rest of Equestria raised the magical dome around town. That damn shield. The Quarantine Line. I’d stopped trying to understand it, and just treated it as another fact of life.
“Another fact of life,” I muttered, staring at a stone that marred the hillside. “Nothing to be done about it.” My hoof scraped the stone out of the way, scuffing some of the grass aside with it. Whenever I started feeling overwhelmed, kicking a stone usually helped. “Just have to accept it and move on.” I watched as the stone rolled to a stop, uncaring of my effect on it, the rustle of the wind drowned out by my grinding teeth. “It’s not fair.”
The dam broke at that, and I slammed my hoof down, eyes burning. “It’s not fair!”
As I blinked tears from my eyes, I realized my hoof was stinging. I turned it over to see the rock staring sullenly back at me. My anger broke as I sighed in resignation and pulled it free with my teeth. Tossing it to the side, I lifted the next letter.
Macintosh,
Son, I don’t know if you’ll get this letter, or even be able to read it if you do. Your father and I tried for weeks to try and get somepony to let us in, but nopony would listen. The madness is contagious. Sooner or later, anypony who comes into contact with somepony from inside goes insane.
But, there is a little bit of good news. We met a young Guard lieutenant named Shining Armor. We begged him to at least tell us something was being done, if we couldn’t see our family. Finally, he met with us privately and told us the Princesses have a plan. Princess Celestia’s sending his sister, her personal student, inside the dome to put an end to the outbreak. Lieutenant Armor said that he could send our letters in, but nothing can leave the Quarantine Line. There should be a gemstone in with this letter. No matter what, you must not lose it. Shining’s teleport spell is keyed to that stone.
Son... Mac, my sweet colt. Please, hold on. Tell Granny, Applejack, and Apple Bloom that we love them. We love you all, so much. Just hold on. We won’t give up, so you better not either.
We love you,
Ma and Pa
P.S. Crab’s put us up at his farm for now, though the fruit bat infestation’s getting worse. He says not to worry about it, but the west fields are the farm’s primary source of bits. At least it lets us help earn our keep, and gives us something to do other than worrying. So don’t you worry about us.
I snorted, looking toward the library where I could see Twilight, Applejack, and their other friends. I had felt such hope when she first arrived with her baby dragon, so confident in her ability to end this, to help save us all.
Then it claimed her. I don’t know how, but she’d started talking about “Nightmare Moon” and how she would cast Equestria into eternal night. I tried to break its grip on her, but it seemed somehow stronger than it had been with the others. Maybe it was because her magic was stronger, or it wanted to keep her from stopping it. In the end, it didn’t matter. She was lost, and hope with her.
I almost left the last letter unread, but I stuck it out, shouldn’t give up now. The date on this one was a month after Twilight’s arrival.
Mac,
We... heard the news. There’s rumors of another attempt planned, but I think that’s all they are, is rumors.
We talked to that Lieutenant again, though now he’s a Captain. Ended up having him and his family over for dinner, talk it out, you know? They’re the same as us now.
They’re going to reinforce the Line tomorrow, seal off the town. I wish that I could hold you one more time, tell you it’s going to be alright. But I kno- tha—
I felt my eyes begin to burn as I read past the tear-blurred words, where Pa’s hoofwriting picked up.
Mac, it’s Pa. Listen Mac, I know times are tough. It’s not going to get any easier either. When they close off the Line, Shining won’t be able to send any more letters in. But you’re an Apple. Even if Ma isn’t, you got a thousand generations of Apples in ya. Never give up, son. Endure.
I love you, Mac. Always will.
Pa
I stared at the letter for a long while, almost not hearing a new wave of wailing coming from town. I glanced up in time to see Twilight organizing everypony, several already boarding up their homes. This, admittedly, was a new one. I briefly thought about going down into town, see what this new fuss was about, but Applejack would undoubtedly fill me in at dinner. It had been a long time since I'd taken a moment for myself; if they were barring doors and windows, they weren't likely to be doing themselves harm. Real peace and quiet was already hard enough to come by these days, a little more wouldn't hurt.
I looked back at the letter, reading Pa’s last words to me. ‘Endure,’ I thought to myself as I looked out over the town, now in a frenzy of what appeared to be disaster preparation. ‘I don’t know how much more of this I can take, Fortune.’ I blinked, realizing that I'd just called him by his name, instead of the usual “Pa”. The slip began to eat at me. Maybe I was finally slipping, some chink in my mind letting the madness in.
Maybe it was a sign. I’d fought this thing for so long, anypony in their right mind would have given up. Celestia knows it’d make me happier. I rummaged in the box for the photograph of the family and stared at it. The smiles seemed to beckon, whispering to me that I’d done enough, that it’d been enough, to just relax.
But, no Apple got anywhere by doing things the easy way.
My eyes stung as I put the photo back. “I'm sorry AJ, Bloom... Ma, Pa. I'm just one pony. Don't think I'm givin' up, I'm still an Apple. Stubborn kind of comes with the name, y'know? Just sometimes hard to see the end of the tunnel is all."
As I felt the tears begin to fall, the gemstone chimed.
I blinked. The gemstone had never chimed before. “Wait, what?” I peered at the gemstone, sitting there innocently. “What?” I carefully reached out to pick it up.
Then it decided to blind me. I threw my foreleg up to try and shield my eyes, but the damage was done. I felt myself tip over backwards, landing heavily on my back as the air sizzled with discharged magic.
My vision finally cleared, and I sat up, blinking furiously to get my orientation. There was a fine haze of dust in the air, but I could make out a rolled-up scroll resting atop the others.
Coughing, I seized it and scooted back into clear air. It was just like all the others, though rolled a little thicker, tied with a plain string. I took a careful sniff of the paper, and froze as the scent washed across my nose.
Ma and Pa had written this. There wasn’t any other reason for their scents to be that strong.
Frantically untying the string, I slowly unrolled it, staring at the first words on the paper. It was neater, but it was definitely Pa’s.
Mac,
It’s been a long time since we’ve written to you, son. Too long, if ya ask me, but they wouldn’t drop that shield for anypony. Well, not until now, but I’ll explain that.
Anyway, the first thing. Yes, they opened the shield enough to allow us to send you this letter. You’re a smart colt, so I’m sure you have a guess or two. But, your first one is probably right.
They found it, son. There’s a cure. I don’t know how, only the rumors about Princess Luna’s personal student, Sunset something or other, working it out. But it works, they’ve tested it and everything!
Now, before you get too excited, it’s gonna take a while. Me and Ma were able to talk to that Shining Armor again, and he told us they got to give it to everypony who’s going to be working in Ponyville first. But the point is, we’re coming for you.
That’s the next thing I wanted to tell you, boy. It’s not going to just be the Guard or medical ponies who’re coming into Ponyville. When the first rumors hit, we decided we’d had enough, and got letters sent to everypony. We had an extra reunion this year, and once the whole family was there, we went on the march... toward Canterlot.
I wish you’d been there, son. It was an impressive sight to see, that’s for sure. Don’t think the Guard really knew what to do with us, until Princess Celestia showed up. She was somethin’ else, let me tell ya. Walked right up to me, a little smile on her muzzle as she asked us what had brought so many to see her.
Took me a second to realize she’d spoken to me, until Crab nudged me. I took a breath, ready to demand that she let us into Ponyville to rescue our family… and fell to my knees, begging her to just give us the chance to see you all again. Embarrassing, I know. But I’m not too proud to admit that I just wanted you, AJ, Bloom, Granny and all the farmhooves back.
I don’t know how long I was down, but she lowered her head to mine, and whispered I should rise. She stared at us for a bit, and said that as much as she wished we could, that the Guard had to be the first ones in. But, she promised that as soon as it was safe, we would be the next ones let in.
So you hold on, Mac. If you’re still you, then hold on. We’re comin’ for ya.
By this point, the tears had returned, and I had to stop reading to wipe at my eyes. As I let go of the letter, a photo envelope fell out of the roll and landed at my hooves. As I picked it up, I caught sight of the next line.
Now, I got one last thing ‘fore you can look at the picture we sent. After they strengthened the Line two years ago, your mother and I settled in permanently with Crab. Unfortunately, the farm failed two months after that. We looked it over, and decided to move out west. Crazy I know, but there’s a couple spots that are watered enough to grow in. As time went on... well, things took their course. And… well, no two ways about it boy, but there’s a new leaf on the family tree. Open the picture.
My hooves shook as I carefully peeled open the envelope and slid the photo out. It was a simple photo, just Ma and Pa standing side by side. Pa just starting to laugh, while Ma had an expression of bemused annoyance on her muzzle. But what held my attention was the little colt draped over her poll, forehooves pushing her mane down over her eyes. His coat was green with a light yellow-green mane. Bright blue eyes stared at the camera curiously, and my eyesight blurred as I gently tucked the photo back into the envelope. Taking a few deep breaths, I turned back to the letter.
That’s right, he’s your little brother. Name’s Apple Leaf. Doesn’t know a whole lot of words, but enjoys shoutin’ the ones he does. He’s real curious to meet his big brother and sisters, so you better be ready for him.
Mac, I know it ain’t fair to ask you to keep waiting. I wish I could have said this to ya face to face, though things don’t always go how we want. But, I know you can do it. You’re an Apple. It’s right in the family song after all: No matter what comes,
“We will face the weather,” I finished as I looked across town, the same as I’d done from this hill dozens of times before. Only this time, I looked with hope.
