Bruised Apple

"Yah can sleep with the pigs, yah lousy little varmit! maybe then ya'll learn to shut your mouth!" slurred a rather large orange stallion with a yellow mane, throwing a red colt out the door. His orange mane was cut short, so it cant get pulled. Big Macintosh got up slowly, wincing. his front left hoof felt sprained. He looked behind his father at his sister, AppleJack, who was holding the baby, Apple Bloom.She was crying due to all the noise, and AppleJack was trying to calm her down by rocking her and shushing her.

"SHUT HER UP!!!!" Pa yelled, turning around.

AJ yelped and ran to the back of the house with Apple Bloom,who started to cry harder. Big Mac wanted to hit him for yelling at them, but he was too scared. He opted for limping away to the barn, scolding himself for not being able to do better. When he opened the barn door, he was greeted by moo's and oink's. He went to pet his favorite cow Bessie, and fed her some hay. She chewed happily as he want to get a blanket from the spare room, then making a soft pile of hay to lay on.

As he lied down, he thought to him self, 'why did it come to this'

Everything was perfect. We were a happy family...until ma passed away. She had just given birth to Apple Bloom when she got sick. The doctors tried everything they could.

They even called a doctor from Canterlot to help. But... it was no use. She just got weaker and weaker. One day, she called Big Mac over and told him " Take care of your sisters. Make sure they are safe. I love you very much,"

The next day, she passed away, leaving big mac and the girls with their father.

Pa was devastated. He got so depressed that he started to drink excessively. That's when everything went downhill.. he got into such rages that he beat Big Mac until he was unconscious. He tried to hit the girls, but Big Mac fought him hard about that. He eventually gave up and only hit Big Mac.

As he made a pillow of hay, small tears fell down his cheeks.

'Ma would never let this happen,'

He went to lay his head down when the barn door opened. He braced for his father, but was surprised to hear small hoof beats followed by a cooing. AppleJack came into view, Apple Bloom in a baby pouch on her side.

"are yah a'right?" she asked softly.

"Eyup, I'm fine. Fer the most part," he assured her. He reached over and gave her a hug. "I'm too tough to be hurt that easily,"

"That's good." she said. She then reached in the saddle bag and pulled out some bandages. "Though I still think you need these,"

Big Mac smiled. After he was bandaged up, he pulled the girls into a hug. He then proceeded to tickle them, sending them into a giggling fit. Ater they stopped laughing, AppleJack yawned quite loudly. It was the middle of the night, after all.

"I think someone needs to go to bed," He said jokingly.

AppleJack made a pouty face." but I don't wanna. "I'm not *yawn* t-tired," she said sleepily,her eyes drooping.

He smiled but said firmly," Ya'll need to sleep, its the middle of the night." Then he chuckled." Apple Boom beat you to it, "he said, point to the filly in question. AppleJack looked and smiled. Apple Bloom was slumped over in her pouch, snoring softly. She looked back and had to muffle a giggle. Big Mac had lied down and fell asleep. AppleJack leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

"Goodnight, big brother." She covered him with the blanket and walked out softly, stopping to pet Bessie on the way out.

When she walked in, she found pa asleep on the couch. She skirted around him and quickly went to her bedroom. She laid Apple Bloom in her crib. She babbled in her sleep, rolling over and grabbing her teddy bear. AppleJack smiled and went into her own bed, covering up in her blanket. Her last thought before falling asleep was her hoping that tomorrow would be better.