Author's Note
I would of posted this soon but the site has been giving me a Syntax error or something.
It looks like it might be pointing towards me having an outdated browser but IDK.
Anyway I was able to borrow a friends IPad hoping this will alow me to post- here goes nothing.
The Dream.
The dream is the same every night.
I open my eyes and the world is still and quiet all around.
I turn my head to the side my gaze escaping out the closed window by my bedside, the sun is barely rising over the lush green hills yet the dew among the grass shimmers almost as brightly as the sun itself.
I slowly get out of my firm but strong bed, tossing the sheets aside onto the floor below.
I never really used them anyways I'm the type of stallion that is always warm blooded, I never seem to get a chill no matter how cold it gets on The Farm.
Which is a good thing I suppose.
I have to be strong, the family knows this and I know this.
Walking over to the window I glance out and onto the land before me, Apple Trees stretch across the land for miles and miles- I squint my eyes trying to spot Ponyville in the distance.
Yet no matter how hard I try.
I'm never able to see past the farm, our land is never ending the sun might shine but inside all I feel are shadows.
I gallop over to the door and try and push it open my mind saying if only I could get outside I could find where the farm ends, I push and tackle into the frame of the door yet it doesn't move or weaken the slightest bit.
I can feel my chest tighten as my gaze falls to the floor below.
I know here I'm supposed to stay, It's my place.
Yet inside I feel trapped.
I place a hoof gently atop the door wishing to feel its cool wooden frame just once, yet instead as I touch the wood it is not cold at all but warm.
No not warm...
Hot!!!
Suddenly my eyes shoot open, ripping myself out of the dream world and back into reality all around me is nothing but thick dark smoke.
Jumping out of bed my large hooves stomped onto the old wooden floor of my room hearing a loud creak as I did so, lowering myself closer to the floor I quickly shuffled over to the door a never ending stream of smoke coming from behind it into my room making it near impossible to breathe.
I placed a hoof atop the frame to feel a sudden pain shoot up my body, pulling back swiftly I knew the door itself just burned me, gritting my teeth in anger I took a deep breath I wasn't going to allow a door to stop me from helping those I loved.
With a mighty tackle I smashed my shoulder into the hot wooden frame the whole door flinging off its hinges and crashing onto the floor below, all around were flames bright orange and a hellish red flickering and dancing all around in a dance so wicked it engulfed all around me.
Heart racing in my chest while my eyes burned from the smoke, I galloped down the hallway towards Granny Smiths room, I had to save her first being the oldest there was a large chance she hadn't even woke up yet.
I skid to a stop in front of the door pushing a hoof against the frame as it swung open only halfway, to my shock a large beam had fallen from the ceiling and blocked the doorway flames licking at my hooves from behind.
" Grrrrrr!!! " My body tensed as I began to feel myself buck wildly, I was growing tired of this damn fire blocking my path at every turn I was not going to take it anymore!
Taking a few steps back I slammed my whole frame into the door, using every ounce of energy I had I pushed and slammed against the old frame until with a loud snap the door flung open the beam crashing onto the floor in front of me.
Gasping aloud I could feel the floor weaken beneath my hooves, the beam that had just hit the floor suddenly crashed through the planks falling down below into a large sea of flames.
Narrowing my eyes I could see through the smoke in the room and to my shock laying on the floor trapped under two flaming beams was Applejack, she had beaten myself to Granny yet seemed to have been trapped by the falling debris beside the bed.
My mind was racing on what to do as my eyes fell upon Granny on the bed sleeping soundly under the sheets a smile across her face, Taking a step towards her near the bed I could hear my sister moan aloud from the ground.
" She's Gone..." AJ coughed aloud softly her eyes filled with pain and sorrow, I glanced down to her and back up to Granny.
Her frame so still and calm- it was true she had passed.
Tears slowly trailed down my face as I could feel a tightening pressure in my chest, My sisters cries for help pulling me back to my senses quickly.
Rushing over to her side I gazed down to AJ who flashed a weak smile back, I wrapped my hooves around her protectively hoping I could slide her out from underneath the debris with ease.
Yet all I was met with were the screams of agony from my little sister, her whole frame was shivering in pain while tears rolled down her cheeks slowly.
Her hind legs were pinned under the rubble firmly, the flaming beams had crushed the bones nearly flat inside her legs, if she were able to escape I feared maybe she wouldn't be able to walk again.
" Don't worry AJ.-I Gotcha! " I placed her gently back down onto the floor as my hooves touched the firey beams before me.
Pain from the scorching hot wood sent lightning bolts across my whole body, I could feel my hooves being burnt down to the bone as I tensed up my frame trying to lift the two stacked beams off my sister.
My body went numb from the pain blood trickleing down my coat as I gave it everything I had to lift the objects before me, Yet instead of feeling that satisfying give or sudden release in pressure I felt nothing.
Not even a slight budge.
Gasping aloud in pain I let go of the beams, my tender hooves touching the hot floor once again as AJ gazed up to me sighing aloud.
I huffed in anger collecting my strength as I gave it another go, My muscles strained and my legs ached with pain as I tried to lift the object with everything I had heart, soul and power-everything!!!
But nothing helped.
The wood never moved.
The high-pitched scream of Applebloom echoed around us from down the hallway.
" Go...Save her..." Applejack looked up to me with tears in her eyes as she slowly removed her hat with trembling hooves.
" I just need a minute..." I tried to speak my voice cracking while I leaned in close to her, my sister placing her hat atop my head gently.
" Go..." She whispered into my ear her slender muzzle massaging against my own calmly.
" No." I replied Appleblooms screams getting louder.
" Go!! " AJ screamed her voice starting to distort.
" Help!! " The sound of Applebloom screaming seemed to echo louder and louder.
" GO!!! " AJ screamed her eyes burning like embers as I stomped my hooves onto the ground firmly.
Ponies from all around came to help with the wild blaze that had engulfed all of Sweet Apple Acres, Earth ponies carried in buckets of water as Pegasi did sweeps of dirt from the sky- even the unicorns used their magic to trap or put out flames with ease.
Atop a nearby hill sat Applebloom and myself, watching our farm, trees and home burn before our eyes, the sun rising into the sky slowly as I held my little sister close to me in my hooves.
Her sobbing was muffled against my large chest as I ran my bloody hooves gently through her mane, nothing but silence filled the air between us as deep down inside I knew our lives would never be the same again.
" Big Mac..." Applebloom tried to say something as I gazed down in silence my eyes locked onto hers never blinking.
The small filly merely whimpered softly out of sadness and burried her face back into my chest.
But as the days would come to follow, I would learn she did not look away that night out of sadness.
But out of fear.
A Kind Soul & A Weary Heart.
Author's Note
New chappie- with another on the way!!
I'm glad so many have enjoyed this story so far.
I enjoy telling this tale.
I forgot to place in the character sheet that Fluttershy plays a fair role in this fic as well so I corrected that, this is mainly a Cheerileex Big Mac ship, but also has a bit of a hint towards Fluttershy X Big Mac.
It's balanced pretty well.
The next chapter is a mix of Fluttershys and Appleblooms P.O.V
Also the intro of Cheerilee to the story.
A Kind Soul & A Weary Heart.
" Big Mac!! " The small frightened voice of AJ echoed around the Apple Orchard with the slight tone of pain.
I galloped at top speed through the Orchard following the soft sobbing of the small filly- I knew deep down everything was alright just my little sister getting herself into some trouble again.
Skidding to a stop I could see the small copper filly crying into her hooves beside a large Apple Tree, her blonde mane was frazzled out cutely and her whole body was shivering.
" What's Goin' on here Lil Filly ? " I asked with a soft sigh as my little sister tried to stand up before me, her hind leg lifting up slightly off the ground.
" I...I tried to buck this tree and-and it hurt me!!! " AJ suddenly burst into even more tears as I simply let a loud chuckle escape my muzzle.
" It ain't funny Big Brother!! " AJ pouted her lower lip plumping out cutely as she tried to stand tall, only to topple over to the ground with a soft thud.
" Well I told you not to buck any trees, you're just too young. " I smirked as I walked around my little sister nudgeing her side with my muzzle.
Before long I was able to lift up the little filly and slide her small frame onto my backside with ease, my little sister was in a huff her tears replaced with a sense of bruised pride.
" I just wanted to show you I was strong enough to do it... " AJ trailed off with a sigh her dark green hues narrowing slightly as she gazed off into the distance.
I continued to trott through the Orchard at a steady pace enjoying the scene around me, the large towering trees, the full lush grass and even the warm shining sun high in the sky- it all came together perfectly.
" I know you can do it - It's just you're not old enough too. " I sighed a bit myself.
" Now I bet you gone and bruised your leg. " I shook my head side to side wondering how in Equestria my little sister had gotten so stubborn.
Applejack pouted aloud on my backside wiggling in place gently, her mane frazzled out even more as her muzzle scrunched up cutely before she flashed me " The Look." a gaze that I would come to know well in time.
" Blah-blah- You're always talking about me- about this or that!-I can take care of myself! " The small filly tried to save face giving me a stern glare.
" I bet you can AJ, tell you what the day I start to believe you no longer need my advice I'll keep quiet. " I smirked looking back to my sister who just beamed happily with joy.
" Really?-You promise? " AJ giggled as I simply nodded along knowing she was eating this up.
" Eeyup. I promise the day you don't need my advice is the day I don't have to worry about you..." I slowly trailed off my little sister giving me a curious gaze her ears folding back softly.
" Ahem. Big Mac? " The softest voice I've ever heard floated gently on the wind to my ears as I suddenly shot open my eyes to see a small delicate mare before me.
Her mane cascaded gently down the side of her face femininely while soft blue eyes watched my every movement, she stood still in place softly running a yellow hoof back and forth among the grass below her. I knew her well she was a close friend to my late sister- her name was Fluttershy.
She was known around Ponyville as possibly the most delicate and sweet mare in all of Equestria, always showing kindness to those around her never asking for anything in return. I yawned narrowing my eyes towards the sky as the newly rose sun almost blinded me, I lifted a hoof to block out the light a disgruntled sigh escaping my muzzle.
" I'm so sorry to wake you, It's just I've well everypony really has noticed..." She trailed off her voice quivering some with uncertainty her whole frame shivering softly.
I groaned loudly rolling off my backside and onto my side shaking my head side to side quickly giiving my ears a quick pop, then extending my hooves I slowly rose to my feet the mare whimpering softly as my shadow towered over her in a cold silence.
" Noticed what? " I spoke just cutting to the point not in the mood for small talk at all.
" Um...well....uh..." Fluttershy tried to speak her voice cracking unable to find the words.
" Hmmm." I narrowed my eyes directly to her own as the yellow mare went pale almost as if she were going to faint in front of me.
" Noticed Applebloom and yourself have been sleeping out in the field here for a few days now!! " Fluttershy spoke in a rushed tone her eyes wincing a bit as she struggled to make eye contact with me while I just shrugged back.
" We're just camping out for a few days till' we get our bearings together. " I replied as the pegasus let out a soft sigh herself while I turned away from her and started to walk towards a small curled up ball in the grass.
" Are you sure you should be camping so close near the burial ground? " Fluttershy asked as I stopped in my tracks spinning around to give her a small glare.
" Is that a problem? " I asked with a serious tone my eyes locked on the mares, who just swallowed hard.
" Not at all. I'm just worried about the filly- this cold chill coming in could make the poor thing sick. " Fluttershy found her voice, standing her ground as she made a smart move and changed the subject.
" We're ok- Applebloom is strong..." I spoke proudly before hearing a soft toned cough below me, gazing down I could see Applebloom covering her muzzle with her hoof trying to hold back the coughing.
" Big Mac.-Please come stay at my cottage for at least a few days till the chill passes- for the child. " The mare spoke taking a brave step forward to me her eyes locking on my own as I knew she wouldn't be backing down anytime soon.
Casting a annoyed glare down to my sister who quickly hid her face in her hooves, I let a large sigh escape from my muzzle and shrugged my large shoulders.
" Fine but only for a few days." I spoke in a stern tone walking past my little sister in silence, readying our saddle-bags to go on the move.
We all walked along the path heading towards Fluttershys' Cottage, I was at the back end carrying all the bags in silence as my little sister chatted away to the mare ahead of me giggling and bouncing around on the path. The pegasus just smiled and chatted back in a carefree manner, both acting as if they were the best of friends- as if nothing had changed this week.
I gritted my teeth tightly a odd feeling building inside my body, I could feel my calm slipping as my blood began to boil. Did my sister nor this pegasus have any respect for the dead?, how could they simply giggle and carry on in such a way?- it was sickening.
" Big Mac! Now don't you go fussin' over nothin' ! " AJ trotted next to my side with a frown across her face those dark green hues giving me " The Look" again.
" I'm not fussing over anything, I just think I need to teach Applebloom some respect is all." I whispered under my breath as my sister rolled her eyes a small huff escapeing her muzzle.
" She's just a filly Big Mac- I'm just happy to see her smiling again. " AJ giggled as she gave me a playfull nudge at my side with her muzzle.
" I'd be happier to see you smile too big guy. " AJ sighed in a calm tone as I continued on in silence unsure how to reply, though I could feel the calm washing back over me like a soft wave.
" I...My dreams these last few nights..." I tried to speak my voice cracking slightly as I turned to my side to see nopony at all, just the cold caress of the wind flowing by.
" Did you say something Mac? " Fluttershy asked turning her head back towards me softly her eyes glistening brightly in the light of the outdoors.
" Nope. " Was my reply.
The only mare I wanted to talk to was gone.
And all those who were close to her didn't care at all.
A few days.
Was all it took to be forgotten.
I'd never forget.
Ever.
