Family Core

Hollow Shades was the complete opposite of Ponyville. While the latter was a bright, sunny town filled with the laughter and music of their inhabitants, the former was a dark, gloomy town surrounded by fog and the discreet cough of the peasants.

Even the ponies looked different, all sporting bags under their eyes and walking with their heads down.

The three Apple siblings sighed a collective sigh, clearly not happy with being there. Pinkie Pie on the other hoof was ecstatic, she felt like she was in a town filled with Cranky Doodles, eager to bring a smile to their faces.

“This town is...amazing! I´ve never been here! Uh uh, what's that on the roof? What´s that in that other roof? What´s that thing in that window?” Pinkie asked, bouncing over a gargoyle, another gargoyle and a pony on a window watering her plants.

“Calm down Pinks. Hollow Shades is just a normal town. Couple houses, a town hall, nothing much to see,” Applejack said, sounding defeated.

“They don't even have a theater,” Apple Bloom said, sounding defeated too.

Big Mac simply nodded along.

“You shouldn't have come here…” a ragged figure with a raspy voice said, approaching them.

Apple Bloom hid behind Applejack while Pinkie looked at the approaching figure with a huge grin.

“You shouldn't have come here, younglings. Beware, beware...for you lot are entering PumpkinHoof realm!”

The old lady took off her hood, revealing her wrinkled and toothless face. Pinkie Pie let go the biggest scream, jumping at Applejacks arms but by the silly look on her face, it was hard to tell if she was genuinely scared of just playing along.

“Cousin Wicked! Always so nice ta see ya!” Granny SMith said, nuzzling the wicked mare.

“You bought strangers to our land. Shame on you…” Wicked Apple said.

“Same old Wicked. Now, ah want to take a taste of that pumpkin pie of yours,” Granny said, leaving with the other mare.

Pinkie Pie jumped off from Applehack and said “I like her!”

“She´s right, you know’ You shouldn't have come here…” another voice said from behind them and now it was Apple Bloom´s turn to jump over her sister.

“Hi cousin Sour…” Apple Bloom said, jumping off her sister with a blush on her face.

“Hi, I´m Pinkie Pie!” Pinkie jumped over to greet the filly who merely nodded and the shifted her attention to Apple Bloom.

“Hi cousin Bloom, I´m so happy to see you again…”

“Ya...are?”

“Of course. I´m so thrilled to see my favourite cousin. Look, I got my Cutie Mark.”

“Oh, that´s...great. Is that a pair of rusty horseshoes?”

“Cool, right?”

Sour Apple finished her sentence with a big grin and Apple Bloom turned white. Pinkie couldn't help a smile when looking at the filly. She was pretty similar to Babs Seed, same height, almost same color, even sporting a bang but hers was longer and she never take it away. Pinkie smile got a little smaller when she realized the pony looked too much like her sisters.

Applejack noticed this and decided to move things forward.

“Come on y´all, we better move things if we want to spend the night ´ere.”

“Spend the night ´ere?” Apple Bloom repeated,, right before she felt a hoof over her shoulder.

“This is so great, cousin. Now we can spend all night talking and sharing stories, have you heard the one about the Headless Horse?”

Apple Bloom cried for help but Sour was too strong and drag her around. Applejack could only sigh while Pinkie was still smiling.

*****

Despite Apple Bloom´s protests, the night was actually quite pleasant. Wicked Apple certainly lived to her name in terms of appearance and attitude but her cooking was exquisite. Pinkie had never tried so many different variations of pumpkin and she loved every one.

The town had an inn, hosted by the Apples, and Pinkie found the perfect place for her there. The ponies of Hollow Shades may look sad and gloomy but give them an accordion and a piano and they will sing like any other pony trapped in Pinkie´s spell.

Pinkie had honestly one of the happiest day ever but as the night went on, her smile began to fade. It began as a huge, beaming grin but then turned into a soft, pale smile. It faded the more she looked at the Apples, how they talked to each other. She looked at Apple Bloom hiding under Granny smith´s arms when sour´s story got too scary. She looked at Applejack reassuring his brother and invited him a big cup of pumpkin juice.

Despite how they acted, the Apples were getting along well with theri cousin from the shady town. They were family, no matter the where or the who, and Pinkie wished she oucl say the same about the Pies.

****

“Ah´m not so sure about this, cuz,” Apple Bloom said, speaking inside the dark kitchen.

“I suggested climbing off the bedroom window but you said no, cousin,” Sour Apple replied.

“Not that! Ah mean going out, alone. At night, alone. Alone.”

“Worry not, cousin. Hollow Shades is perfectly safe in the early morning.”

“This is the early morning?” Apple Bloom asked, looking outside. She could hardly tell since the town always looked the same.

“But it´s at this hour the Headless Horse is said to be seen, trotting near the old bridge,” sour whispered, making Apple Bloom jump. “You seem a little nervous, sure you want to do this?”

“Ah´m...ah´m fine. If ya sure ya got yer Cutie Mark near the bridge, then ah guess ah should try too. heh, ah´ll surprise mah friends in Ponyville if ah come back with a Cutie Mark.”

“I hope you get a Cutie Mark just like my, cousin. That will bring us closer,” Sour said, leaning over Apple Bloom and making her shiver.

They sneak inside the kitchen and hid behind a table, trying to avoid being seen by big MacIntosh who was roaming around finish a few more barrels of pumpkin juice. When he turned their back on them, they trotted off into the distance.

****

“There ya are, Pinks. Ah lost sight of ya during breakfast. Or maybe it was dinner, it´s hard to hell in ´ere parts.”

Pinkie Pie however didn´t respond, she was staring at the foggy town outside the window.

“Pinkie Pie? Are ya alright?”

“Oh, hi Applejack. It´s quiet outside, you notice that? I was having so much fun downstair that I didn´t noticed how quiet this town is. It reminds me of my home a little. Not Ponyville, but my home home, the rock farm. Although Ponyville is also my home but it's not the home where I was born, you understand me, right?”

“Ah guess…” Applejack did understood but it was mostly how frantic Pinkie was. It seemed she was her usual cheerful self but Applejack could notice the sad, distressed pony from two days ago was still there.

“Pinkie Pie, ah don't like seeing you like that. Ya seemed to be having fun ´fore but now…”

“But I was having fun! I am! I love being with your family! You´re so funny and close and sing in harmony! Remember the song we did?”

“Yes, it was a fine song but Pinkie, why do you look so sad?” Applejack asked, placing a hoof on her shoulder.

“I guess...I guess it´s because looking at you and your family, at how close you are. I think I want that for my family too and I know I won't get it. I love my family but my dad only know about work and my sisters make jokes I don´t understand and my mom always calls me by my full name…I just think I'll never get to understand them, the same way they don't understand me.”

“Ah dunno about that. They seemed to like that concert you made a few months ago. Remember how ya saved their farm?”

“Twilight played a big part on that and still, I don´t think they´re very happy with me living in Ponyville.”

“Ya know what´s yer big problem, Pinks?”

“I mix up the sugar and the pepper when making Mrs. Cake´s Frosty Chocolate Buns?”

“No. Ya always jump to conclusions. Mind ah remidn ay when you accused all three bakers of eating your cake that day?”

“You mean when you and the other girls were the guilty ones?” Pinkie said,

“Alright, ya got me there. Wait, how did ya know ah did it? Ah didn´t leave a trace!”

“Twilight told me you ran to the library two days ago and confessed.”

“Heh, yeah that..” Applejack said, scratching her neck at the embarrassing memory. Truth was the guilt was making her lose her mane. “Mah point is that ya keep talking about what you think yer family thinks. How can ya be so sure?”

“Maybe I should try...asking them. Maybe I could bring a violin and see if dad wants to practice again? You know, he sued to paly the violin when I was foal? He stopped a long time but he was very good. Uh uh maybe you two could play a duo? Or is it say duet? Maybe it´s dual…”

Applejack laughed, happy to see Pinkie rambling again, this time out of her own energy.

“We´ll make a stop on their farm on the way back, okay partner?”

“Okie-dokie-lokie. And AJ…” Pinkie leaned forward and gave Applejack a big hug. “Thank you.”

“Right back ya, kiddo. Now, where are them two rattlesnakes going out?”

Pinkie was about to ask why they were rattlensake sint eh town but Appleajkc was looking at the window, at the two little fillies that were going downtown.

****

Big Mac got himself another mug of pumpkin juice and finished it in one gulp, letting a bug blurp out with it. He was feeling a little dizzy so he went out for some fresh air. He was a peculiar stallion, able to sustain a full mug of cider but anything with the word juice on it could knock him down. No jokes he once pass out from drinking orange juice, that time her sister and her friends tried to get their marks for a tropical bar.

The air was chilling so he put in a coat he found hanging in the door. It was a little big for him which was something even more peculiar that his light weight. He thought he heard some rushing steps behind him, coming from the front door but there was no pony around. He shrugged and walked into the foggy morning, humming a song he got stuck on his head.

*****

Apple Bloom had started to regret this idea.

In fact, she started regretting when they sneaked out the inn.

Scratch that, she started regretting when her cousin told her the story on how she got her Cutie Mark during the dinner/breakfast.

Doubles racth that, she started regretting the second Pinkie Pie say “can I take the first turn?”

Now she was standing next to a creepy bridged in the middle of a creepy town, surrounded by an even creepy fog and next to the creepiest pony she had ever known.

“Croa croa croa!”

“What was that?”

“Just the sounds of frogs, cousin.”

“Oh, that´s right. jsutfrogss.”

Apple Bloom didn´t got scared easily. She wasn't afraid to admit that she could get afraid but it did took a lot to scare her. The idea of a basilisk didn´t scared her at all. The actual creature hunting them down to turn them into stone, that was scary.

Now it wasn't the story of the headless Horse what scared Apple Bloom. She already had heard the story a dozen times in camps; but there was something about this town. She knew the story was false but in Hollow Shades she was starting to think that maybe, just maybe, a Headless Horse could be around.

“Croa Croa Croa!”

“What´s that?”

“I told you, frogs.”

“....”

“...croa croa croa.”

“Yah´re the one making those sounds!”

“Just making ambience,” Sour apple said, shrugging.

“Ah, this was a bad idea. Ah should have stayed in home. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo are probably getting their Cutie Marks now by accident. Maybe Sweetie is singing a carol por Scootaloo sliding on a sleigh and bam, they got their flanks covered. And ah´m going to miss it for being ´ere.”

Apple Bloom fell flat on the bridge, letting her hooves hang from the sides.

“You keep talking about those friends of yours,” Sour Apple suddenly said.

“Yeah, ah miss them.”

“Don´t they tire you off? I would get tired of running around all day with...other fillies.”

Apple Bloom got many traits from her sister but she was quicker on one thing and that was picking up signals. Just one look she could tell Sour Apple was looking sad.

“Ya okay, cuz?”

“I´m sorry cousin, I lied to you there´s no Headless Horse.”

“Ah know that. It´s just a story,” Apple Bloom said, trying to sound sure of that.

“I just wanted to spend some time with you. I missed the last family reunion for being sick. I bet it was entertaining,”

“It was, except the part of the fruit bats and the crashing barn and mah tongue twisting…”

“See? you had fun. I have to make out this stories just to get you interested,” Sour said, joining her cousin on hanging on the ledge.

“Yah mean all of that was an act? The spooky storeis, the creepy voice, the aniamls sounds?”

“No, I like making animal sounds. Hear, hoot hoot.”

“Okay, that was very good. But vuz, ya don´ need to tell me scary stories to entertain me. Ah want to spend time with you, that if ya stop being creepy.”

“Woof woof!”

“Ahahaha, that´s funny! What else can ya do?”

“I can do cats. Miauuuu!”

“Hahahaha!”

“Or cows. Muuuuu”

“Hahaha, that´s great!”

“Hiiiiiiiii!!”

“Uh, that was the best whine ah ever heard. Ya sounded like a scary Windigo.”

“That wasn´t me,” Sour APple said.

“Cuz, ah told you to stop trying ta scare me.”

“Seriously, it wasn´t me.”

“HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!!”

“That was you, right cuz?”

Sour Apple didn't answered. She was petrified staring at something behind Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom turned over and saw the figure of a cloaked pony approaching them.

A headless pony.

****

“Now ah can´t see a darn thing in front o´me! Pinks, can ya use yer Pinkie sense to tell me where the girls went?” Applejack asked.

“No can do buckaroo! My Pinkie Sense only tells me of thigns that are going to happen right away, like that barrel you´re about to trip with.”

“Yeah, thanks fer that,” Applejack said from the floor.

She got up and tried to scrutiny the go but it was too thick. She wished Twilight or Rarity were there to light the path or that she had one of them fancy unicorn horns.

“Hey AJ, I was thinkin…”

“Yeah Pinks?”

“When I met my dad should I bring a tuba or a flute? BEcause I was thinking I should use some wind instruments to accompany his strings.”

“Ah don´t know Pinks. Whatever ya think it'll work. Now where was the town square? Ah can't tell a street form the next one…”

“Or maybe I should go with drums and ask my sisters to accompany us with a set ot trumpets. I bet they'll like that.”

“A-ha,” Applejack said. Where were those girls? was the only thought on her head.

“Then again if they're slightly out of tune, the entire harmony willbe disrupt. We should go with an allegro piece, that way dad can keep up. he must be out of practice.”

“Okay. Wait, how ya know so much about music?”

“I have a friend on the Canterlot Philharmonic!”

“Figures,” Applejack said. She actually was used to Pinkie having friends on every city of Equestria.

“Applejaaaaaaack!”

Applejack coudlrecoignzie that cry anywhere. She stood on her hind legs and crossed her arms, hoping to look intimidating enough. “Now where have ya been, youngling?”

Unfortunately, Apple Bloom didn't had time to check if Applejack could match Granny Smith´s harsh tone. She was too busy running away from the headless cloaked pony.

The second she noticed him, Applejack also called for a retreat.

“Pinkie Pie, move!”

“Why?” Pinkie didn't seemed concerned at all.

Applejack wasted no time with explanations and grabbed Pinkie by the tail, tossing her over her.

“Girls, what's going on in ´ere?” she asked the two fillies.

“It´s the headless Horse It´s real!”

“Ya kiddin,” Applejack said but the whining supernatural pony behind her seemed convincing enough. “Okay, ah buy it.”

“I´m so sorry, cousin. I was just trying to tell you a scary story, I never expected the Horse to be real!” Sour said,.

“But ya said ya faced it before! That ya got eyr Cutie Mark scaring him away!”

“Ya did? How?” Applejack asked.

“I didn't said that I scared him away! I said that I got my mark near the bridge! I was there initiating frogs!”

“...seriously?” both Apple sisters asked.

“Croa croa?”

“Doesn't matter now. We have to return to the inn and secure the doors. Now if only ah could remember where in the hay the inn is!” APplejack said.

“I´m so sorry, Apple Bloom,” Sour said.

“It´s okay, Sour. Ah´m just glad we´re finally spending time together, as family.”

“Uh, is this a family activity? like the wagon ride?”

“Pinkie, how can ya ask that? Of course this ain´t about family!”

“Then why is Big Mac chasing us?”

“BIG MAC?” the three Apples aid and they stopped their trot.

They waited until the “Headless Horse” stumbled in front of them. Applejack moved the cloak revleaingin the dizzy face of her older brother.

“Big mac, ah told ya to lay off the pumpkin juice. Ya know that stuff get into yer head,” Applejack said.

Big Mac response was a high pitched “Eeeeenope!”

The absurd of the situation took a little way to settle on but once it did, all mares were laughign out loud. Hollow Shades suddenly looked a lot brighter.