The Mute Apple

From the corner of the red stallion's eyes, he saw a silhouette of what he assumed was somepony in the barn,and hurriedly rushed to see what exactly had hid behind that big barrel of freshly squeezed Apple Juice that had been made that morning. The two Apple Siblings quickly peered behind the barrel to discover...nothing. Well, nothing aside from a black flashlight that was dimly lit. In shock, Applebloom's expression turned from enthusiastic to disappointed in a matter of seconds. "Wha...Where is..." Is all Applebloom could peep out. In frustration, she plopped her forehead onto the barrel, causing a thud as she thudded her forehead onto the stickiness of the applejuice barrel, hardly caring for the juice on top that was matting into her fur.

With a groan, she turned her head to look at Big Mac, who appeared to be just as confused as she was, busily scanning the floor or the barrel for that matter for any sign of anypony. "Ugh, Where in Equestria could she...ugh..." Applebloom's groaned out of frustration again. Then, the feeling of something tugging on her ear came. Twitching her ear a little bit, she ignored it for a moment, brushing it off as something she was imagining, perhaps a nervous twitch. Then another tug, and the same reaction happened, this time swiping her hoof against her ear. "Consard these twitchiness..." She complained, observing Big Mac, who has now moved onto another area.

Then, there came something that yanked upon the tip of her ear. She blinked a bit, then yelped as she picked her head up abruptly. "What the hay-" She looked down with an annoyed expression, and noticed a string-like material threading from her ear, all the way down to something else.

Upon further inspection, a very tiny orange...pony? With blonde hair and three very small apples on her flank hung from said string, seeming to silently panic. "...Big Sis?" She said, catching the now smaller pony in her hooves, and setting her down on the barrel. The small pony seemed to be making rapid gestures with her hooves, making shapes, and emulating the motion of making a square with her hooves, then emulated a "writing" motion with her hooves, as Bloom's expression was simply oblivious. She paused for a moment or two, then narrowed her eyes at her. "Well, well, well. Who's the big sister NOW?" She said with a smirk.

Big Mac brought his head up, after sticking it within a bale of hay in an effort to look for his Apple Sister, getting some stuck to his mane, hardly caring for that. Hearing the younger filly talking to, what appeared to be nothing at first glance, and slowly made his way over to her. Upon further inspection, the older stallion raised his eyebrow, and moved his head closer for a better inspection. "...AJ?"