Life of an Apple

     Years passed. Apple Bloom started school. She had made some friends, but they never visited the barn. Big Mac and Applejack had seen them, though. Peppermint Twist, Silver Spoon, and Diamond Tiara. They all seemed like nice fillies.

     As for Applejack's friends, she never made up with Rarity, as Rarity had moved away to Fillydelphia. But she grew a stronger friendship with Pinkie Pie, as well as a pegasus named Fluttershy, whom Big Mac hadn't met.

Big Mac woke up one morning to find Applejack and Apple Bloom missing from their bedrooms. He headed downstairs to inform Granny Smith. "Where are they?" he asked. "Do you know?"

     Granny Smith sighed. "They headed out a while ago. They said they were going to the cemetery." Her head was down.

     Big Mac knew why they were there, but he wanted to find his sisters anyway. After hurriedly telling Granny Smith where he was going, he headed out of the barn and down into Ponyville. He walked the paths until he reached the cemetery.

     He already saw spots of yellow and orange in the corner of his eye; he turned and, sure enough, there were his sisters, standing by each other and two familiar gravestones.

     "She said," Applejack was telling Apple Bloom, "that Poppa chose your name before he died. She said she wanted you to have the happy life we lost."

     Apple Bloom looked up at her older sister, and Big Mac, who was quietly trotting over, saw her amber eyes were shimmering. "She said that?"

     Applejack nodded sadly. "It took a while to get used to our parents' deaths and a new baby. Ra--" Applejack stopped herself, as if her old friend was too painful to mention. "--somepony's family helped us out till their own baby was born."

     Apple Bloom stared at her pale yellow hooves, looking ashamed.

     Applejack turned her head and saw Big Mac. "When did you get here?" she asked, a bit startled.

     "Just a bit ago." He approached them and sat by Apple Bloom.

     Apple Bloom looked up at her brother. "Big Macintosh? Do ya think Momma and Poppa are watching us?"

     Big Mac thought for a moment. Apple Drops had promised she'd go up to the sky with Redstreak and watch her three children grow up happily. She was the type of pony to keep promises. He trusted her words, and he knew that his mother and father were looking over him, looking out for him and his sisters, loving them all more than ever.

     He gave Apple Bloom a small smile. "Eeyup."