It's the job of the older to take care of the younger. This simple rule is true of nearly all things, basic of the world itself. It holds doubly true for siblings. And as an older brother, that should have been true of me as well...
But it wasn't.
I stand in the doorway of Applejack's room late this night. You see, something has happened tonight that hasn't for many years, not since us Apple siblings were much younger. AJ, my strong, pig headed little sister, is crying. She's crying in her sleep, the only time she'll ever let sorrow show openly. And I have no idea how to help her.
I couldn't help her back then ether. The dream she's having right now, the memory that's causing these tears? It's the memory of our parent's deaths. However, it's not so simple for AJ, not that dead parents is an easy thing to deal with. But, for Applejack, it's different. She's not reliving the moment she found out, she's reliving the exact moment they were killed, right in front of her.
Yes, Applejack, my little sister who was barely a year older than Apple Bloom is now, was the only witness to the very moment our parents were killed. I can't even begin to imagine what that did to her. Truth be told, I don't want to know. And that's why I stand here now, unable to go in to comfort my little sister, and hating myself for it.
I should be the big brother, I should be holding her right now and telling her it's okay. But I can't. I'm too scared. Scared to see my tough little sister so broken up, scared of facing the memories of Ma and Pa's death, and scared of what I might learn about their death. I'm one giant red coward, aren't I?
“Big Mac?”
I’m startled by the small voice just behind me. Turning, I see my littler sister, Apple Bloom looking up at me with worried eyes.
“Apple Bloom.” I whisper best I can. “What are yah doing up this late??”
“Ah was sleepin. But somepony crying woke me up." She looked past me to AJ's bed. "Is AJ the one crying?"
The worry in Apple Bloom's eyes and her question bring me back to the issue at hand. "Eeyup. She's havin' a bad dream."
"Well I can see that." That subtle bite seems to be a gift to all mares of the Apple family. "So, why are you just standing here and not going in there to help?"
I can't look Bloom in the eye, just lower my head in shame. "She's dreaming about Ma and Pa."
I can see Apple Bloom react, tensing as realization hits her. I told her not too long ago about it, and thus she knows exactly what that mean and why this is so hard for me. AJ use to have this nightmare all the time when she was younger, before Apple Bloom was old enough to notice. After returning from Aunt and Uncle Orange, she slowly grew stronger and the nightmares stopped. Apple Bloom grew up never knowing just how much AJ was going through.
However, it seems our sister never did get over it, just found a way to push it down far enough for it not to bother her so much. And now something has dug it up and Apple Bloom has to see it like I once did, the pain and fear AJ tries so hard to hide. As I look at her now, fear and worry pass over the little pony's face as she tries to make sense of what to do next. I can also see something else now that I look. What is that? Determination? What's she thinking in there?
She looks back up at me, eye alight with a fire I've only ever seen in her and AJ. "Then she needs us even more."
And just like that, without so much as another word or a look back at me, Apple Bloom marched right into AJ's room, climbed into her bed, and laid down next to her, holding her older sister in the tightest and most loving hug her little body could muster. AJ didn't wake from the hug, but simply turned over and gripped Apple Bloom back, burying her face into her sister's chest. Her sobs continued, but she seemed to relax slowly in the embrace.
I was plum shocked. No doubt or fear at all. That little pony simply moved right on in and did what needed to be done. And I felt mighty silly for it. My youngest sister was able to do the right thing without so much as a thought and here I was, several years older than her, too scared to even move from the doorway. Just plain shameful on my part.
Not wanting to get shown up by my little sister, I followed suit, giving a small embarrassed smile as I climbed into the bed on AJ's other side, Bloom smiling right back. Now I'm much bigger than little Bloom, so I made much more of an impact getting into the bed. Enough that AJ finally woke up. She looked around confused at first, until her eyes set on the two of us smiling at her.
"Wha-What're ya'll doing in my bed?"
"Giving you a hug, silly." Apple Bloom said with a toothy grin. "You were having a bad dream, and like you use to tell me, nothing helps a bad dream more than a hug."
"Eeyup." I gave her my own smile. "Though it was mostly Bloom's idea."
AJ looked between the two of us, her tears still flowing. That dream left her in a right mess and she was trying to hide it while speaking. "Ya didn't have to. I just-"
"Hush." I cut her off with a small squeeze. "No arguing now. We're huggin' ya, and yer gonna like it."
"Eeyup." Bloom snuggled with AJ happily.
It was too much for her. Whether from the emotional weakness of her nightmare or from the comfort we were now giving her, AJ could do nothing but stare at us. Her two siblings laying on either side, holding her close to comfort her, she was too drained to fight us. So, she simply shut her eyes tight and curled in closer to us, holding our forelegs as if afraid we might disappear.
"O-Okay." She tried to hide her sobs, but we didn't care.
We just held her close and let everything go quiet. We stayed like that for a while, so long I figured Bloom had fallen asleep. She had not. And what she said next surprised us both.
"Apple Jack?"
"Yes, Apple Bloom?"
"Can you tell us what happened? It might help."
Both AJ and myself exchanged looks of concern. Was it right to tell Bloom what happened to our parents? Even I didn't know all the details. Would she be able to handle it?
"Apple Bloom," AJ began a little unsure. "Ah don't think that's a good idea-"
"Do it."
AJ looked at me like I'd just said apple were blue. I'll admit, I was a bit surprised myself. A part of me did not want to know about Ma and Pa's death, that part was even trying to get me to run out of the room that very moment. But, the story needed to be told. This was so bad, AJ was having nightmares. She needed to get it out, to share the pain with someone, and I was about 10 years late in that act. No more waiting.
"But, Big Mac."
I sat up and looked her directly in the eyes. "I should've made you tell me what happened that very night. It was wrong of me to just let you live with this on your own." I sighed and continued. "But, its too late for that now. Now, you have to tell me, tell us everything. Everything you saw and felt. Don't hold anything back. Share it with us, so we can all move on and finally put them to rest."
I admit, I don't talk much, don't like doing it unless I have something important to say. But, when I do, I certainly make up for it. AJ just looked at me for a few seconds, her face blank as she digested what I said. Slowly, she smiled, a sad little smile one might have when they realize something horrible is almost over and they have one last thing to do. In a way, that was true.
"Alright." A few tears of relief fell down her face. "Alright. You win. I'll tell you everything."
AJ climbed out bed and stood next to her window, the facing the Everfree Forest. She took a few deep breaths, trying to compose herself most likely. Couldn't blame her now could we? Bloom and I just waited quietly as she prepared. Then, she turned back to us.
"I followed Ma and Pa into the forest. They were looking for one our chickens that ran away..."
***
For 3 weeks after that night, Apple Bloom slept in AJ's bed with her, not that I can blame her. I myself didn't sleep well for almost two weeks after AJ's story. I still can't believe she was able to go through that. Truly, Apple Jack is stronger than most ponies, by far. I just wish I had been there for her from the beginning. But, there's nothing to be done about that now. We just have to keep going and honor our parents' memory.
On the bright side, AJ's seemed more well rested than I've seen her in a long time. If nothing else, this helped her some what. Maybe now she'll share with us more and not keep everything bottled up. And maybe I'll start being a good big brother again and start making her tell me things. If not, me and Bloom will just have to invade AJ's personal space again. He he he.
-The End
Author's Note
Siblings, and the others in your family are there for you, even when it seems you're alone. They just might not know how to help you. Or their scared of what might happen if they try. But, you are not alone, and they ones that truly love you will come through when you need them the most.
(Sorry about the weird stuff in the dialog. I'm still trying to figure out the country slang for the Apples.)
Anyway, hope you like this and please feel free to give some feed back on the story. What needs improvement and what did you like about it.
