Life of an Apple

     It was later, while Apple Drops was still at the hospital with Redstreak, when Big Mac was gazing out a glassless window and saw a familiar orange shape coming closer.

     Big Mac couldn't believe it. He rushed to find Granny Smith and told her, "Applejack! She's comin' back!" They both ran outside to greet the filly at the entrance.

     Applejack ran straight into their forelegs, hugging them like never before. She looked up at both of them, green eyes shimmering. "You wouldn't believe it! It was a rainbow that pointed me home!"

     "I'm glad you're back, AJ," Big Mac told his sister. "But why'd ya want to?"

     "Bein' fancy is harder than I imagined!" Applejack told him. "They didn't even know what a rooster was! They dressed up my mane and made me speak in this accent! And y'all wouldn't believe how little the ponies eat there!"

     Granny Smith chuckled. "You've found your place," she told her granddaughter. "One of these days you'll be buckin' apples with your brother."

     Applejack suddenly sulked. "No I won't."

     Big Mac then noticed something. "Look at your flank," he told his sister.

     Applejack did, and gasped with delight. Three small, red apples appeared in a triangle on the orange fur.

     "I will!" Applejack squealed. "I will buck apples with you, Big Macintosh!"

     Big Mac couldn't be happier. His sister was staying after all, and here to see the new sister. But there was something she needed to know.

     Applejack glanced around. "Where's Momma and Poppa?"

     Granny Smith sighed. "They're...they're in the hospital, Applejack."

     Applejack's face fell. "What? Why?"

     Big Mac sighed. "Uh, an explosion happened in the sky. It hurt Poppa. Momma took him to Ponyville Hospital."

     Tears came into the filly's green eyes. "P-Poppa's hurt...?"

     Big Mac nodded. Then he had an idea. "Wait here, 'right?" He hurried back to the partially destroyed barn. Surely debris hadn't covered the spot he'd buried his hat. He managed to find the place very easily. He dug deep enough in a short time and soon found the old brown fabric of the familiar hat. Smiling, he pulled it up with his teeth, shaking the dirt from it. He then galloped back to Applejack and Granny Smith.

     "Hey, that's your hat!" Applejack exclaimed.

     Big Mac dropped the hat at his sister's hooves. "I...I want you to have it."

     Applejack gasped. "Really?"

     "Eeyup!" Big Mac smiled.

     Applejack hugged her brother tightly. "Thank you!"