Once A Thief, Always An Apple.

by Living Madness

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Apple Bloom, Applejack, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Sad
Length: 8312

There are many secrets the Apple Family holds close, especially when it comes to Applejack's Parents. But what happens when one of those secrets strolls up onto the farm

There are many secrets the Apple Family holds close, especially when it comes to Applejack's parents, secrets she holds even from her own kin. But what happens when one of those secrets strolls up into the farm.

A short Story I've been slowly writing and adding to when I hit writers block.
(Cant find a suitable picture, sorry if its a bit bland/predictable.)

Published 2014-07-14 23:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-15 21:54:37 UTC

Who are ya?

Author's Note

Just a little story I'm writing to help me keep active whilst I think of new Ideas for my other stories.
Thought i'd try my hand at the whole Applejacks parents story so hope you enjoy.

Who are ya?

The sound of the school bell rang across the warm summer evening signalling another end of class for the fillies and colts of Ponyville. The majority flooded out almost immediately in a tiny stampede of hoofs and wings, as they rushed to play in what was left of the summer day. Three such fillies were at the forefront of this group running up through the town trotting in tandem and consisting of an orange Pegasus, a white unicorn and a creamy yellow earth pony.

“Oh man that was a long day.” Scootaloo groaned, flexing her tiny wings for effect.

“Ya’ll said it, I thought we’d be there forever.” moaned a slightly drained Applebloom.

“You think Miss Cheerilee would have at least let us go when we she started yappin’ about magic and stuff.” Scootaloo pointed a hoof motioning towards herself and Applebloom.

“We’ll I thought it was interesting, we almost never get taught magic together.” Argued Sweetie belle.

“Easy for you to say Sweetie, you can actually do magic, it’s not exactly fun when you don’t have a horn coming out of your head.” Stated Scootaloo as the group made their way towards the corner of the town square.

Sweetie Belle stopped trotting and rolled her eyes for dramatic effect. “Yeah, well if you were paying attention you would know she was talking about all the types of magic, not just unicorn, you do know that Pegasus and earth pony’s have magic too right?"

Scootaloo and Applebloom stopped and turned around. “Course I do, but as far as I’m concerned all I need to know is how flying works and I’m set! I bet Rainbow doesn’t have to worry about all that magic when she does those awesome tricks right?”

Sweetie bell sighed and shock her head “Never mind, at least we can get back to crusading now.”

“Yeah, ah recon we should try that forest survival cutie mark idea ya’ll came up with last week.” Applebloom chimed in.

“Hey yeah! Do you think your family will let us camp over at the farm?!” Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle both looked stared intently at their farm friend with eager grins.

“I don’t see why not, I did all my chores this mournin’ before school.” Applebloom stated with a smile.”

“Well what are we waiting for lets get us some cutie marks!” Scootaloo happily yelled as all three filly’s ran happily towards the Apple Farm.

As the three filly’s walked towards the farm laughing and joking the sight of a strange figure off in the distance in the farm caught the attention of the orange Pegasus.

“Hey Applebloom whose that?”

Applebloom stopped and turned towards the direction the young filly was pointing too. Just barely visible off in the fields was a brownish figure it was walking like a pony and to an unfamiliar eye it would have just looked like one of the Apples family. But Applebloom had years of experience spotting her sister and brother, even from such a long distance, and the figure in the background was not one of them.

Applebloom’s mind went through many different explanations as to why the mysterious pony figure was so far into the farm some logical, so not so logical. However the way in which the figure skulked along the treeline, just barely visible from the road, only led to one explanation in the young filly’s mind.

“Trespasser!”

The other filly’s gasped in shock as they turned to look at the figure off in the distance. Applebloom motioned for the three to come into a group huddle as she devised a plan for dealing with the criminal.

“What do we do?” Sweetie somewhat needlessly whispered.

“You go find my sister, I’m gonna keep an eye on that no good crook, make sure he don’t get away.”

“What about me.” Scootaloo quickly whispered pointed to herself with a hoof.

“You go with Sweetie Belle and get my brother ta help.

The orange Pegasus sat on her flank and waved her hoof whilst shaking her head violently. “uh uh, no way I’m lettin’ you go off on your own, not without back up!”

There’s no time Scoots, I know ma farm better than anypony round here I know all the hidin places and nocks n cranny’s, plus if there’s only one of us it’ll harder to spot right.”

“I guess that makes sense but I don’t like it.”

“You don’t have ta like it ya’ll just gotta do it, now let’s get goin’.” Applebloom lifted her hoof into the middle of the group, which was almost immediately surrounded by the other two hoofs of her friends.

“1,2,3 CUTIE MARK CRUSADES CRIME STOPPER GO!” They all shouted in perfect unison, before dashing off to complete their tasks.

It had been nearly ten minutes now since Applebloom had left her friends and caught up with the Mysterious figure. She kept her distance, and dashing from tree to tree, stopping only to take a quick glance at the thing in question. She stopped dead behind a tree breathing heavily when she thought that the figure had spotted her, and after a few moments to let her little heart stop pounding out of her body she continued the chase.

The figure looked mean and dirty, he had a Stetson on same as her sisters, however this one looked like it had been through hell and back. It was missing a sizable chunk on one of its brims and was faded a sickly brown.

It didn’t help that the hat was also tipped all the way cross the pony’s head making him seem even shadier to the filly, as she considered that anypony who tried to mask their own identity was up to no good. It was also aggravating to Applebloom, as it made it increasingly harder to see the figures face, meaning that to sate her curiosity she would have to push on, getting closer than she would have liked.

The rest of his body was covered in a pony equivalent of a trench coat, which also looked like it had seen better days. Tales of boozing, fighting and general wear and tear where road marked all across the grey outfit.

It was by this point that Applebloom had come to the conclusion that the figure was an old Stallion as she managed to get close enough to make out more of the Shadowy pony features. He didn’t look nearly as old as Granny smith, but based on what she could see the pony had lived through quite allot more years that her brother or sister had.

She also noticed that the stallion was limping, badly, as Applebloom examined the hind leg the pony was limping with she noticed that it was coved in streaks of crimson, even behind the trench coat it was obvious that he was bleeding rather heavily.

Applebloom was almost tempted to confront the pony in question then and there, and offer assistance until she noticed the large knife handle protruding out of the Stallions coat. This made her reconsider her plans at least until the girls brought help.

The filly continued her stalking at a safer distance now from the stallion who thankfully looked too busy trying to ignore the pain in his damaged leg to notice anything else. Applebloom’s mind stated to wander a bit, who was this strange stallion, why was he walking around the farm he was obviously hurt, did he not know where the hospital was, and why was he wearing such a strange get up?

All of these question spun around in her head for a while, until her small hoof landed on a tiny twig, which despite its size made an exaggerated and almost comedically loud snap.

Applebloom winced, and looked down at the twig for just a moment, and then up as she noticed the sunlight vanish from her face replaced by the shadow of a very large and intimidating figure.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo raced towards the farm as fast as their little legs would let them. Scootaloo silently cursing herself for leaving her scooter back at Rarity’s house during last night’s sleepovers.

As the ponys crossed the threshold of the farm entrance, they immediately raced towards the first obvious land mark which was the farm house, hopping that at this time they would be able to catch the farm pony’s setting up for dinner.

Both Filly’s raced up to the door and began immediately pounding on it standing on both hind legs yelling Applejacks name.
The sound of the hooves walking towards the door could be barely head from the inside of house “Im commin, Im commin Hold your horse shoes.”

The doors opened quicker than the two fillys had planned leaving them to their own back legs which in hind sight was a mistake as both filly plummeted muzzle first on to the floor with a loud ‘Thud’.

The Orange farm pony that opened the door starred in confusion as the two filly’s landed side by side beneath her.
“Sweetie, Scootaloo? Just what they hay you doin’ bangin’ on ma door like that ain’t no pony tell ya patience is a virtue I heard ya the first couple of knocks.” Applejack said with a scolding tone.

Sweetie belle was the first to recover her breath to speak “sorry Applejack but it’s an Emerg—

“There’s some shady pony trespassing around your farm!” Scootaloo interrupted attempting to cut to the chase so she could catch her breath quicker.

“What? Shady pony, trespassing, girls what you goin’ on about and were Applebloom?!”

Both filly’s went red in the face at the mention of their friend, now that they thought about it Applejack might not understand the brilliance of Applebloom’s. A plan that was now slowly looked like it was full of holes.

Sweetie Belle gulped and looked up at Applejack with a nervous smile. “Well you see…

A few moments of explaining later.

“So you just let er go!?” Applejack yelled with a disbelieving tone.

“She said she knew the farm inside out! And, and we ran as quickly as we could to find you, it seemed like a good idea at the time.” Scootaloo said dejectedly as she looked down at her hooves once more along with Sweetie belle.

Applejack face was a mixture of worry and anger; she didn’t mean to be so harsh on the two girls but the thought of her sister in danger had a way of making her think somewhat irrationally. “You two wait her and make sure to stay out of sight with Granny Smith, I’m going to go get Big Mac, and when I get back all three of you are in for a big talk ya hear me.”

“Yes Applejack” they both said in saddened unison eyes still glued to the floor.

Applejack nodded and rushed out the door towards the barn where she knew her brother was currently occupying, only one thing was running though her mind as she galloped.

OH HAY, I JUST HOPE I'M NOT TOO LATE!

Applebloom slowly stared up in horror at the figure who just moments ago a few was a few hooves away from her, but was now towering over the small earth pony. The stallion slowly lowered its head down until it was almost eye level with the shaking filly.
From this angle Applebloom could clearly make one piercing green eye, the other covered up with some sort of dirtied bandage, small scars littered his face some even going under the bandage. All coupled with the size of the stallion compared to the filly seemed to add to the terror Applebloom was feeling right now. That was until the stallion smiled.

By all rights the stallion in front of her should not have had a smile that natural, it contrasted with every other thing about him. That smile seemed to scream a certain level of Trust and calm that Appleboom couldn’t help remember from a similar pony so long ago. She tried to shake the thoughts from her head, why was she getting all nostalgic now?

All these thoughts stopped as the figure looked her over with its emerald eye. After what seemed like hours the silence was broken.
“Howdy, little one.” The Stallion spoke in a very similar southern style to Applebloom, even if the voice sounded like it came from somepony who swallowed rusty glass for a living.

Applebloom stepped back almost immediately eyeing for any sort of exit she could possibly use as an escape. A notion that the stallion seemed to notice.

“You know-“ The stallion said with a cough getting the young filly’s undivided attention once more “- I always found the best way to stop some pony whose right on top of ya’ was to use your Surroundin’s, Everypony always thinks bout runnin’ or fightin’, but they never use what’s around em, for instance right here kick a little dirt up into somepony eye and you can make sure that, that pony’s not gonna follow you for a little while. Also flinging a branch backs, yep that’s always a good one as well too.” The stallion stated, reaching up with a hoof to stroke the underside of his chin, smiling with an almost nostalgic look on his face

Applebloom looked at the pony with confusion wondering why he wasn’t just jumping up and trying to grab her already.

“W-who are ya a-and what are you doin on ma farm!” Applebloom stiffened up and yelled sticking a accusing hoof out at the unknown stallion, who despite Appleblooms best efforts to sound intimidating chuckled softly.

“Mah, mah, mah, you are a feisty one ain’t ya just like your mom was back in the old days.”

Applebloom eyes shot up in surprise, not many people know about apple family’s parents, even fewer knew them on a personal level.

“A-Ah don’t know watch ya'll are talkin' about, you're lyin' ma mom would never hang out with a smelly creepy pony like yourself!”

Again the stallion chuckled and relaxed his posture a bit "You’re a terrible liar little Applebloom, you got no poker face.”

Again the filly's eyes shot up in a disbelieving stare “H-how did you know my name.”

The stallion shrugged “Well it’s easy, you told me.”

“I never met you before in my life, how the buck did I tell you?” Now she was pushing forward towards the stallion who stood sat their looking down at the little filly with an oddly prideful smile.

“Language little one, now didn’t you just call this your farm?”

The filly looked confused not sure where he was going with this “I-I did.”

“The famous Apple family farm of Ponyville.”

Despite herself Applebloom lifted a hoof to her puffed out chest in pride, at the notion of her farm being famous enough for even pony’s like this outsider to know about.

“The very same.” She announced loudly.

The stallion chuckled again before continuing “And being that there’s only four pony's everypony knows that runs the family business it’s easy to deduce ain't it? It’s obvious you ain't no stallion and im pretty sure Applejack would be around her twenty’s by now. Which means that by all logic you are either Applebloom or” he lifted a hoof to stifle a chuckle “Granny smith but you got a few less grey hairs on you aintch.”

The stallion finished by ruffling up the young filly’s hair which despite herself Applebloom laughed at. The actions of the station there again just screamed something so familiar same with that smile and now that she thought about it that eye as well she just couldn’t understand why this pony seemed so familiar to her.

However for now she need to keep her distance, there was still a chance this could be a ruse, and this pony despite all his friendly talk was still carrying a rather large knife. Applebloom pushed away from the Stallion, and went back into her defensive stance.
“So I still gotta ask just what the heck are ya doin' on the farm anyway you don’t seem to be startin a ruckus like I thought you would, even with that scary get up you got goin on, so why are you trespassin’?.”

The stallion lifted an eyebrow to the filly “Very observant little one, No I ain't here to stat nothin’ I’m just trying to deliver a package to your family then I’ll be on my way.”

Applebloom lifted her eyebrow in an inquisitive manor “A package, what for?”

“Don’t worry yourself none, ya’ll find out soon enough” he stated with warm smile.

Applebloom sighed every question she asked just led to more mystery's but she wasn't a pony know for giving up. “Look mister cant ya tell me who ya are?”

The Stallion looked down at the filly and shock his head. “That’s a long story their little one to long ,for now, let’s, Let’s just say I’m an old friend of the family an’ leave it at that, mean time just call me Grape” He said sticking out a hoof for the young filly.

Applebloom stepped back for a moment hesitating, but once again something about the stallions presence seemed to ease away her prejudices, she couldn't explain it but she knew he wasn't lying.

Ever so slowly she lifted her hoof up to meet his before.

“APPLEBLOOM, APPLEBLOOM WHERE ARE YA!”

Applebloom hoof left the air as she pivoted around to see the bush next to the two ponys rustle with movement.

The stallion began to turn, but landed on his damaged leg, the stallion lost his footing causing him to flinch just long enough for Applejack to make her entrance known, along with the enormous red stallion known as Big Mac.

Applejack scanned the scene quickly before spotting her little sister.
“Applebloom are ya ok? What—“

She filched as she very quickly noticed the figure hunched over to the side right next to her sister. The stallion looked up from his hind leg and gazed with his one working eye at the group as the gazed back.

For a moment the silence of the scene was deafening, as neither party moved, Applejack and Bic Mac both looked like they had seen a ghost as all colour left them. The shocked expressions quickly turned to recognition, then anger.

“Applebloom get away from him now!”

“But-“

“NOW!”

The anger in her sister’s voice silenced any argument Applebloom may have had, she looked quickly up at the old stallion who was stiff as a plank of wood, before running towards her family, once there Big mac lifted the filly up onto his back not breaking eye contact with the stallion once.

“What‘re you doin here.” Applejack very slowly growled at the stallion.

“Mah, mah little seed I always knew you’d grow up ta be a fine n’ pretty Mare just like ya mama.” He spoke softly despite his naturally harsh sounding voice.

Applejack stamped her hoof down angrily at the floor “Don’t you mention her, ya got no right!”

The stallion sighed, slowly gazing at the massive, and no less angry looking Big mac. “And you little Mac haha or should I say not so little Mac anymore am I right, still as quite as ever ay?”

“Eeyep” was the stoic stallions only rely.

“What do you want Grapevine? I have half a mind to call the royal guards right now, all the mess you put this Family through.” Applejack sternly stated snapping the stallion’s attention back to her.

The stallion brought a hoof to his chest in disbelief “All my mess! I’m the one, gave you papa half this farm as a weddin gift, I’d say I set you up an’ helped more than anythin’.”

Applejacks eyes narrowed with suspicion “So is that it, you come to take back the farm while the getting’s good?”

That took the stallion back as he took a moment to reply to the mare’s accusations. “How can you say such a thing little seed! I only came down to visit ya’ll, is that so hard to believe.”

“After everything you put ma and papa though, yeah id say it does, in fact, I ain’t letting you leave my sight, not till I figure out what to do with ya.”

She turned to her side and produced her signature lasso, just as the stallion in question reached under his trench coat and pulled the large knife up by his hoof. Big Mac immediately stepped in front of Applejack to shield her sisters, whist Applebloom could simply gasp in shock.

However much to the surprise of all three of the Apples, Grapevine threw the knife lazily towards them, stopping with a soft pat on the grass a few feet away from the family.

“Aint much good that lasso would do if I had one of these on me hey Little Seed” He said with a smile, as the mare stepped forward and flung the stallion into a hogtie position upside down with her rope.

Grapevine grimaced from the pain on his hind leg, which now that it was turned over and unprotected from the trench coat looked allot worse than Applebloom originally thought. A Large and aggressive gash was cut deep across from the flank of the pony down to the middle of his leg, it was at least bandaged if poorly but was now bleeding slowly and steadily.

Applebloom turned towards her sister who for that moment looked worried and saddened by the sight, before she quickly replaced it with a mask of determination.

“Big Mac, take that no good low life down to the barn an’ keep em there for now, clean him up but don’t let him out of your sights, you hear.”

“Eeyep” the big red stallion uttered carefully lifting the stallion onto his back and walking slowly down to the barn.
Applebloom turned to look at the stallion who looked utterly defeated not as he stared down at the ground on Big Mac’s back. The sight was almost heart-breaking to the little filly, he didn’t look like he was hurting anypony she thought and he had for the most part actually come across as quite a nice pony despite his appearances what was Applejacks problem?

Applebloom’s attention was snapped back to her sister as the older mare lifted her hoof onto the filly shoulder, pulling her into her sister’s gaze.

“Mind explainin’ ta me why you went gallivantin’ around all alone young lady”

Applebloom pawed the ground with her hoof. “I’m sorry Applejack I just wanted to be the hero for once, you and your friends are always out savin’ the day, and well I just thought I could do it all by myself especially since it’s on the farm an everything.”

Applejack looked down her sister’s increasingly saddened face, she knew she should scold the filly for doing something so dangerous and reckless. But she would be lying to herself if she said she never did anthing like that herself when she was young.
Applejack sighed “Listen sugarcube, I know you were only tryin’ to help, but you’re still a little filly, there’s all sorts a dangerous things out their especially for somepony your age, I mean just think what could have happened if me and Mac didn’t get here in time?”

“But Applejack, I don’t think he was gonna hurt me none, he just seemed lost and hurt ain’t it always you sayin not to judge a book by its covers?”

Applejack sighed and bent down towards Appleblooms Eye level. “Applebloom if it were any other pony I would agree with ya, but this one’s a special case he’s exactly as bad as he looks.”

“B-but who is he anyway, he knew everythin’ about us, and now that I think about it, you knew his name before anypony else even told you, Applejack who was that?”

This time it was Applejacks turn to look down defeated. She lifted her faithful Stetson a few inches up and took a heavy sigh. “I hoped I would never have ta talk about him, but I suppose I can’t hide it no more… Applebloom you remember me tellin you about why Ma and Pa where up near the Bad Lands north of Appaloosa when they… well you know.”

Applebloom scratched her chin, and took on a thoughtful expression for a moment. “Yeah you said ma and pa where off visiting Pa's no good brot…”

Applebloom eyes shot up as the realisation hit her.

“But, but that means!“

Applejack nodded her head slowly “That’s right that no good snake is you’re Uncle Grapevine, Grapevine Apple.”

An Apple To The Core. (Part 1 of 3)

The walk back from to the house was a quiet and uncomfortable one. The only thing that broke the silence was the sounds of hoof on grass, and the occasional grunt of pain from Grapevine from time to time, as Big Mac went over a particularly lumpy patch of dirt.

Applebloom was silently following her big sisters hoof steps, starring down at the ground in deep contemplation, as she let the realisation of what happened go over and over in her mind. The confession from Applejack about her long lost Uncle had left even more unsolved questions in the filly’s head.

What exactly happened to him for the ever loyal family to cast him out like that? She thought. Somehow she knew that in some way he was responsible for what happened to her parents but she was always told it was a tragic accident that had ended their lives, so how could her uncle have been involved.

Why was it that Applejack was treating her uncle like it was all his fault? The young filly sighed audibly this was just too much to deal with right now, she wasn't going to get the answers by thinking she was going to have to get them from the only pony who knew the whole story her Uncle, she silently determined that even if she was going to break her sisters rules, one way or another she was going to find out the truth.

Applejack turned her head at the sound of the filly’s saddened exhale, she looked in pity at her little sister and turned back towards the silent duo in front of her, as her mind also began to wander. Applejack was also about Applebloom’s age when she last saw her now disowned stallion, although those times where short lived she couldn’t help but think back to the simpler time when she called him her favoured uncle...

The sound of lasso wiping around the rooms signalled another failed attempt as the stuffed teddy bear or ‘Mr Fuzzy paws’ as it was referred to by its owner, just refused to go through the hoop. With a loud “Dangit” the young farm filly let the rope fall to the ground, as she slumped down pouting.

A loud rapping came from the outside of the old thin wooden door, catching the young filly’s attention as she flicked her ears towards the noise instinctively. Turning from the stuffed teddy she was trying and failing to lasso, with a frustrated sigh she threw the rope out of her mouth and trotted over towards the front door.

“Who is it?” She asked in a grumpy, yet still inquisitive tone.

“Why it’s just some devilishly handsome young stallion come ta see his favourite little filly.” The familiar voice announced from the other side of the door, instantly snapping the young filly out of depressed mood as a giant smile graced her muzzle.

The young filly flung the door open, and pounced on the figure before it had a chance to react, bringing it into a small bone crushing hug.

“Uncle Grapevine!” She shouted in childish glee. As the force of her little body tackled both of them to the ground.

The young adult stallion chuckled and ruffled the little Applejacks mane with a hoof. “Heya little Seed, how ya’ll been?”

The young filly pushed the hoof away from mane and looked up again with a grumpy pout on her face as she hit him in the chest with her little hoof.

“Ouch Applejack, what was that for?” looking utterly confused at the pony’s incredibly sudden change of emotions.

“That’s for being late you were supposed ta be teachin’ me how to Lasso two hours ago.” She said leaning into her uncle’s chest with a pout.

The stallion sighed and picked up his little niece, gently placing her down next to him on the front porch of the house, as he turned over onto his stomach. He frowned as he racked his brain for a good way to explain himself.

“I’m real sorry little seed, I tried to get here as fast as I could, but somethin’ came up and I had ta take care of it.” he stated apologetically as he looked over to the saddened filly.

“It’s about those pony’s on the side of town aint it, the ones your hangin’ out with who are always being boozing’ and fighin’ in the saloon.”

The stallion looked away from the filly, surveying the farm in front of him as he thought. There was no lying to the little mare, she was too smart for that.

“I know it’s hard for ya ta understand little seed but, I can’t just step away from this.”

“But Papa says that the pony’s you hang out with are bad pony’s, and I know you’re not a bad pony Uncle.” She said softly looking into her uncles eyes.

Grapevine winced from that, the words from the filly cut into him like a knife, it was basically the same conversation his brother and sister in law kept grilling into him on a regular basses but they were just too naïve to the real world to see the facts. None of them knew what this was all about, Grapevine was doing this for the family, one day they would see that!

Grapevine lifted a foreleg over the filly and brought her into a sideways hug as they both stared into the small farm surrounding them. “Look Little seed, what I’m doin’ now is for the good of the family, I don’t like it anymore than you do but if it means helpin’ family I would do it every day for the rest of my life.”

The little filly leaned into her uncle’s side, as she tried to grasp what her uncle was trying to say.

“So your sayin that sometimes you have to do things you dont like if it means helpin’ the ones you love.”

Impressed with how applejack was taking such an complicated moral topic Grapevine couldn’t help but smile softly, yep that filly defiantly got a good brain on her. “That’s exactly what im sayin little one, family should be the most important thing in any ponys life, especially for us Apples, ya’ll understand me dontcha.”

Applejack looked down and rubbed her chin with a hoof in contemplation “I think so.”

“Atta girl, now where’s your folks I gotta speak to them real quick.”

“Ma and Pa took Mac to Appaloosa for new horseshoes, they won’t be back till sun down.

“They just left ya’ll here by your lonesome?” Grapevine asked raising an eyebrow and staring at the filly.

“Well I did tell them somepony was gonna be here lookin’ after me.” she said in a sarcastic tone looking up at her uncle.

Grapevine lifted his hoof to stroked his mane sheepishly. “Ah hay little seed again I’m real sorry about that.”

The filly sighed and leaned into her uncles side again with a small frown. “It’s ok Uncle Grape I know ya didn’t mean ta do it.”

Grape simply stared into the slowly setting sun letting the warm orange glow was over him and his niece enjoying the rare moment of tranquillity they got to share. After some time he looked down at the filly with a smirk.

“Tell you what how’s about I stick round her for the night, that way I can teach you how to lasso up that teddy right up till bedtime.”
“You mean it!” Applejack yelled giddily.

“Eeyep, n’ heck if you promise not to tell your ma or pa about me being late, I’ll even rustle up some of my apple pie for ya, I know it’s your favourite.”

“You’re the best Uncle Grapevine!” Applejack shot up and nuzzled her Uncle, before rushing back to fetch her lasso.
The stallion chuckled and lifted himself off the porch. “And don’t you forget it.”

Applejack snapped out of her thoughts as the rest of the Apple’s finally made it back to house, just as the sun was beginning to set.
Big Mac was already trotting towards the barn their uncle still tied to his back. His exhausted looking body was slouched over the muscular stallion breathing faintly and trying to keep his eyes open, it was clear to Applejack that her Uncle was doing his best to stay conscious despite himself.

She was finding it harder and harder to look at the stallion, as the painful memory's leading up to that moment kept flooding back. He looked almost nothing like when Applejack last saw him he was far more beat up and looked like he aged twice as much as he should have done, in fact the only reason Applejack even recognized him was because his trademark Emerald eyes and smile. Despite everything she knew, the sight of him in such a state deeply saddened her. “Why couldn't ya have just stayed away.” She whispered to herself.

“Why can’t who stay away?” A loud mysterious voice called behind her.

“Hey is that the trespasser?” Another one chimed in.

Applejack and Applebloom both jumped up in shock at the sound of the two new voices. both farm pony turned to see both, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo Looking over Applejack sholder desperately trying to get a view of the stallion.

“Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo what the hay you two still doin here?!” Applejack bellowed In confusion.

“You told us to stay here and wait till you got back.” Sweetie belle Answered.

“Yeah me and Sweetie where waiting for Ages, what took you guys so long anyway?”

Applebloom looked up at her sister silently as if to ask permission to tell them, Applejack simply shock her head at the filly and looked back towards the other two.

“Listen girls I’m gonna level with ya here, This is a personal Apple matter, and I can’t have you girls goin’ off and tellin’ everypony. So I’m gonna cut ya a deal. But first off, from now on ya’ll should know that if you see somethin’ shady or not quite right goin’ on, you have to tell an adult. You girls as still too young to be handling this type of thing on your lonesome, ya hear me?”

Both Filly’s nodded their head in unison.

“That goes for you too Applebloom, Now then I’m willin’ to spare the wipe, metaphorically speakin’ ,if you filly’s promise not to talk 'bout what you saw tonight. If your Mama’s or older Sister asks, you where here with Mac 'n' me, andyou were out doing you’re crusadin’ or on one of yer little escapades you, got that.”

“Yes miss Applejack” the both answered in unison.

Applejack hated the idea of making the filly’s lie. But this matter was just too important, too personal to risk anypony else getting involved. So with a sigh and a nod she accepted the girls understanding of the situation.

“Well alright then, now you two little lady’s wait here ima get Big Mac to take you both home, it’s getting to late for you two ta walk back by your Lonesome’s.”

She turned back to her little Sister waiting patiently at her side. “Applebloom can you go upstairs and get the First aid Kit it’s in the storage room, next ta Granny’s nittin needs.”

Applebloom nodded and turned quickly to her friends to say her goodbyes giving Applejack ample time to slip away as she turned towards the barn.

Applejack entered the barn and closed the door carefully. Just in time as Big Mac lit a large lantern to the side of the barn room. Lying in the middle was a still hogtied Grapevine, who was looking down at the floor unable to meet the eyes of his two family members. His Hind leg was still twitching somewhat but thankfully as Applejack took a closer look noticed that the blood was congealing somewhat, and wasn’t coming out at an alarming rate anymore.

She turned her gaze towards Big Mac who stopped next to her looking down at the old Stallion.

“Big Mac, I need you to take Applebloom’s friends home I can handle this.”

Big Mac looked at her sister hesitantly a worried expression plastered on his face. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Please Mac, I need to deal with this, and the longer those two are runnin' around the more they’ll start askin' Questions.”

The stallion looked at her in silence for a moment before sighing defeated. “Ok Sis, but I don’t like this one bit.”

“I know Mac, but I can handle it fine for now.” She stated, reassuringly placing a hoof on her brother’s shoulder for a moment.

With that the Red stallion began making his way towards the exit of the barn, throwing one last long glance at the two before frowning deeply and shutting the door.

Applejack flicked her ear and turned to hear the stallion laughing weakly, she furrowed her brow and trotted towards him.
“What’s so funny!” she said narrowing her eyes.

“Nothin', its just good ta see you too getting along so well, I remember A time where you’st ta bicker like cat’s an Dogs. Remember the first day Mac bucked a whole tree by himself?”

Big Mac strolled up towards the final apple tree on the little farm, after this his chores would be complete and he could finally go hang out with his friends. He looked at the tree with determination when all of a sudden, his thoughts where rudely interrupted by a sudden collision to his head.

‘Thud’

“Ouch what the hay was that!?” He yelled staring at the remains of an Apple that had just collided with his forehead.

The sounds of rustling and muffled giggling could be heard coming from inside the foliage. However it wasn’t loud enough for big Mac to be concerned with.

“Huh Musta just fallen.” He said shrugging as he placed the bucket down and began pickin up the fallen apples around the tree. He continued in silence, when all of a sudden.

‘THUD’

Youch!, Dag nabit, that smarts!” The little stallion yelled, grabbing his head as the apple that just hit him bounced off and landed on the floor.

The Giggling and rustling of the tree got even louder than before this time.

Big Mac eyed the tree with suspicion, he had a feeling now that his misfortune was getting to convenient to simply be unlucky fate.
Slowly Big Mac turned away from the tree and back to his job, this time however listening out for any unusual noise behind him. He waited for a moment when at last he heard the faint rustling from the leaves above him as he turned back.

“Ha got ya—“

‘Splat’

Big Mac starred up with an annoyed deadpan expression, as pieces of apple slid off his face, to the sounds of Applejack laughing loudly above, she fell onto the branches she was standing on holding her sides as she laughed uproariously.

“Haha I got you good, ya’ll should see your face!” the little filly mocked, trying to catch her breath and whipping a tear from her eye.

“APPLEJACK! What ya do that for, an howd you get up in that tree?”

“That’s for hiddin Mr fuzzy paws yesterday!” She yelled pointing an accusing hoof at the little stallion.

“I told ya, that wernt me, and now get down from there now!” He growled back.

“Na-ah ,no way.” The filly yelled blowing raspberries at the red colt.

“Well, you asked for it.” Big Mac stated, rearing up his back hooves and bringing them down with all his might onto the tree trunk.

WAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! ‘Thud’

Applejack landed completely flat onto the floor groaning in pain as waves of apples flew down from the tree.

“There. serves ya right for bein’ mean.” Big Mac said with a smug grin.

Applejack stood up on shaky hooves, trying to stop the tears that where forming in her eyes.

“Im-Im Tellin’ Mama!” The little filly wailed, as she turned towards the house with tears in her eyes.

Big Mac simply rolled his eyes and looked back at the now Appleless and Applejack-less Tree.

“Hey, I think I got them all... Sweet!”

“Ya two used to be like that all the time. Your Ma used ta always worry you to would grow up hating each other, But I always used to remind her that me and your pa where the exact same back in the day.” Grapevine finished looking up with a smile.

Applejack thought back for a moment, it was strange to think about her brother in that way again. She all but banished those thoughts from her mind after leaving Appaloosa. It was a shame, as much as she and her brother would fight she did miss how much more talkative and social her brother used to be, it was so hard even for her these days to get the big stallion out of his shell after their parents passed away its why he rarely left the farm at all.

The stallion winced again as he tried to make himself more comfortable on the pile of hay Big Mac set him on.

“Don’t worry some pony's fetching the med kit for ya.” Applejack stated in a cold monotone voice.

“Ah, for this little think, don’t bother, I’ve been though worse.” He motioned to his eye with a hoof “that one hurt like bucker. I can tell ya that, the legs just a scratch.”

Applejack rolled her eyes at the stubbornness of the stallion, as much as she hatted to admit it there was no denying that they were family alright, at least in the physical sense.

“Why are you here Grapevine?” Applejack stated in a monotone voice trying desperately to keep her voice from hinting at the emotional cauldron that was still slowly brewing inside her.

Grapevine winced at the words, the way his little Seed didn’t even want to call him Apple or Uncle hurt way more than any wound, but despite that could he didn’t blame her for not wanting to. “I-I needed to see yall again even if it was for one last time.”

“You had years to see us and you never did, why come now!” She stamped her hoof down angrily as the walls defending her emotions solely but surly began to crack.

“I have somethin’, somethin’ I need to give ya before I go, it’s important.” He softly pleaded in his gruff voice.

“We don’t want nothing to do with it, or you for that matter, you already gave the apples a bad name, what makes you think I’m gonna trust anything you give us.”

“Applejack listen to me! I know your upset I get it, I Bucked up in a way I no pony could ever forgive but I made a promise to your folks to ma Brother and by Celestia I’m gonna keep it.”

Applejacks face began to redden as she clenched her teeth, she was at her wits end with the stallion in hindsight he didn’t really do anything to provoke her but right now with all the memories flooding to the forefront of her mind everything he was saying seemed to enrage her.

“No you listen! How dare ya think that you can just come waltzin back here after all this time and demand I listen to a buckin word out of your mouth, you have any idea what it’s been like, how hard it’s been keep this family together after what you put us through!”
Applejack began pacing around the barn stopping only to continue her rant, not letting the stallion out of her sight for even a moment.

“Me and Mac had to give up our whole lives because of yer actions. Applebloom never got a chance to have real parents because of what happened, I had to raised her myself, my own sister, when I was just barely a teen myself you know what that’s like! No you don’t cos for all your talkin and balberin about family. It’s obvious to everypony that all you ever cared about was yourself!

Finally applejack slumped down letting the tears fall off her face, as she took long methodical breaths gazing down at the ground in between them. “W-why? Why did they have to go running off and get themselves killed for no reason?”

The stallion looked up tenderly at the mare yet still not daring to move to console her slowly he came to the realisation that this wasn’t just aimed at him.

“This isn’t just about me is it, you blame them for goin’ don’t ya.”

Applejack shot up with force as she stared daggers at the stallion, the tears continued to fall from her muzzle.

“They left us, they abandon me, Mac and Applebloom, I didn’t even get chance ta say goodbye. Why did they do it why’d they choose you over us, their own children it aint right?!”

“I ask myself that question every Celestia damned day. Your folks, my Brother and sister in law they were tough, loyal people right to the end, same as you. Your father would always say that Apples always stick together no matter what… I can never forgive myself for getting them into that situation where they did what they did, but I know there was no damn way your Ma and Pa would have left you on purpose.”

Applejack wiped the tears from her eyes and sighed she felt completely drained at this point, the pains of her past and the releasing of so much pent up anger after all these years left her feeling completely hollow inside.

Knock Knock.

Both pony’s turned to see a little red bow protruding out from behind the door, followed by the rest of the filly clutching the first aid kit between her teeth. She walked up to Applejack and placed it down by her side.

“Sorry sis, I would have come sooner but I heard yelling and thought I should wait outside.” Applebloom explained pawing at the ground.

Applejack swong her hoof over the fillys sholders and pulled her close to her chest “Don’t worry about it Applebloom, me and Grapevine here where just discussin’ old storeys is all.” she shot her uncle a venomous look and tossed the first aid by his side. “Here this should be all you need to clean up” she turned to look at her uncle one more time “Im leavin dinner out on the side in one hour eat it or not I don’t care and count you’re blessin’s that’s more than you deserve.” She turned to leave “common Applebloom leave Uncle Grapevine to his lonesome.” She said trying her best to hide the previously used tones from her voice.

She turned motioning for Applebloom to follow, who starred sadly at the pony before walking behind her big sister. Much to her surprise however the stallion was in fact smiling very softly at Applejack, she didn’t know but in the stallions mind all he could think about was the nostalgic name he hadn’t heard in so long, at least in anything said in a non-aggressive manor, the word ‘uncle’ Grape considered the possibility that it could have been a simple slip of the tongue, but it was enough for Grapevine to hear it at least one more time.

As Applebloom exited though the double wooden doors, Applejack peered into the barn one last time to speak “You stay here tonight whist I decide what I’m gonna do with you, and don’t even think about leavin’, I won’t think twice about callin’ the Guard on ya, that is right after I deal with you myself, you got that.

She didn’t wait for the stallions rely as she promptly began closing the doors to the barn and barring it from the outside with a solid hunk of wood. The stallion sighed and began rummaging through the first aid box like he had done thousands of times before looking for the cleaning solution whilst hoping to be done long enough to get some shut eye before sun up.

Little did he know that one more pony was about to visit him real soon, a small bow wearing earth pony, who was now desperate for answers, and was not going to take no for an answer.

Author's Note

Decided to split it in the end, give you guys something to read as Im going to take more of a forced break than I thought before the final chapter is out, Life Inc needs me to work extra hours of suck unfortunately. Shouldn't be more than a week or so though, don't worry maybe i'll even surprise you with an early one... Dont quote me on that.

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