The Split Core

Source Code walked into Braeburn's cottage, and was underwhelmed by what was inside. A basic living room meant for two, a kitchen with a gas-stove, and two bedrooms. It's not that he was expecting a glorious home, like he had in Las Pegasus or anything like that, he was just hoping for more. But, as far as he knew, Braeburn must live alone, and keep an extra bedroom in case any other guests happen to need a place to stay.

"Excuse me, Braeburn, but which room can I stay in?"

"That one on the right is mine. You can take the other one."

"Alright, thanks." Source Code walked into the left bedroom, and saw a perfectly made bed, a desk, and a fully-stocked bookshelf. He hung his vest on the bedpost, and took a seat at the desk. He saw a letter on the right side, and it was mysteriously addressed to him. He thought maybe it was another letter from his father from beyond the grave, but when he opened it up, it wasn't. In fact, it was an invitation to the Ponyville Apple Pie Contest. Braeburn walked into the room to check on him, and realized that he was supposed to send that letter off. Luckily the addressee was Source Code, so he didn't panic.

"I see ya found the letter. Yeah, I was told to send that to my family in Las Pegasus, and was even given the address, but I've been so busy with my farm work that I haven't had the chance. Well, at least ya got it now."

"About that, what is this Apple Pie Contest anyway?" Source Code asked.

"Well, ya see, every year the Apple Family selects one of its members to host an annual friendly competition among its family and their friends. This year we chose my cousin, Applejack, since Appleloosa was the chosen host town for the last three years. I was told that a long-lost Apple family member lived in Las Pegasus, so I wrote a letter to you, which I guess you just read."

"I understand. Anyway, when is this contest?"

"If I remember, it should be a few days from now."

"Oh. Maybe we could go together."

"Well, I have been needing a partner. Everypony else in the Apple family found somepony already. Sure, why not?" Source Code was happy to hear this, and nodded in acceptance.

Braeburn walked out with a smile, and Source Code decided to take a book from the shelf. He wasn't much of a reader, but he left his computer at home, and had no other means to occupy his time. The book was "A.K. Yearling's Amazing Double-Life", a spin-off of the Daring Do books, which Source Code had dabbled in before. He finished the book in an hour, taking no breaks from reading in between. He wanted to check on Braeburn, so he walked in, and found him sitting in a chair, looking through a family album.

"Hey, Braeburn, is that your family scrapbook?"

"Oh, Source Code! Yeah, it is. I guess the fact that you remind me of my long-lost brother, Apple Crisp made me want to look through this again." Source Code started feeling guilty about the mix-up. "In fact, how about you take a look here?" Source Code walked over to him, and saw the picture Braeburn pointed at. He saw a young Braeburn, probably about 10 years old or so, with a newborn colt that bore a striking resemblance to himself. Source Code then reached into his vest, pulled out his wallet, and found his baby picture that he always kept with him. The two colts looked exactly alike.

"Uh, Braeburn, you mentioned how Apple Crisp is your long-lost brother, right?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"How did you lose him, exactly?"

"Well, I was a happy colt. My mother had passed on after giving birth to my brother Apple Crisp, so our dad was the only one who raised us. Then, suddenly, when I was watchin' him work on the farm, a freak lightning storm came over us, and my dad was hit with a large bolt. I ran to him to see if he'd survive, but sadly, he was dead before I could make it to him." Braeburn then started tearing up. "I wanted to say goodbye to him, but with him gone, how could I? My daddy's gone, and I never got to tell him how much I love him one last time." Source Code then started tearing up.

"That sounds horrible. Anyway, what happened to Apple Crisp?"

"Well, I tried to take care of him myself, but when I found it hard to manage the entire farm, as well as my brother on my own, it just couldn't work out. I was lucky that a friend of my dad's. named Amethyst Escrow, was able to take him in. She's from Las Pegasus, just like you."

"Wait, Amethyst Escrow? That's my mother's name. Or, at least my adopted mother's name. I never met my biological parents." Braeburn was shocked to hear this, so he asked a question.

"Source Code, can I see your mane for a second? I need to check somethin' out."

"My mane? Uh, sure, why?"

"Just let me see it, and I'll tell ya." Source Code lowered his head, and Braeburn felt around his mane with his hoof. He stopped when he felt a birthmark on the back of his head. Braeburn then gave the same creepy grin he had when Source Code first saw him earlier. "Well, there's no doubt in my mind now. You, Source Code, are in fact Apple Crisp."

"Wait, WHAT?!"

"I remember Apple Crisp having a birthmark on the back of his head, looked almost like an apple core. You have the same birthmark on your head."

"So that means, you're my long-lost brother, Braeburn?"

"That's right!" Source Code was now ecstatic. He had always wanted a brother, but never expected that he had one all this time.