Howdy! My name’s Applebloom. Since this paper’s all about family, you’d think I have a lot to write about. It should be easy considering I have such a large one, but truthfully? Every word I write is a stab to the heart. ‘Cause it hurts so much to talk about ‘em. My brother and sister I mean.
When the war started three years ago, the leader of our country, Celestia, ordered that all able should apply for the armed forces. This evil dude, Sombra I think, wants to take over our country. So Celestia’s building an army. My family’s farm was ordered to can our apples and send ‘em off to the troops. The whole place is basically a factory now. It’s sad. My farm used to be such a welcoming place and now everything gleams with metal skin.
Applejack and Mac didn’t wanna go but a soldier saw ‘em working on the farm as he was going around trying to recruit. My big brother and sister are super strong see, comes with working hard all your life, and the soldier thought they would be good out on the front lines. So away they went, carted off to help with the cause.
At least that’s what I think happened. Granny says they just got drafted, but I know it was all that soldiers fault!
I miss them alot and sometimes I find myself hating that soldier, he was the one who took my sister away from me. He’s also the one who took Scootaloo’s sister away from her. But it was inevitable since Rainbowdash had always wanted to join the most elite group of the air force, the wonderbolts. I guess you'll get stuff about that when Scoots does her paper. If she even does her paper…
Anyways now I live with my granny, my cousin Babs and Scootaloo since Dash is still fighting. Me and the girls try to get all the chores done and most times we do, but we ain’t as strong as AJ or Mac.. I mean AJ could carry like seven baskets of apples at once and Mac like ten. of ‘em. I can carry three and both Babs and Scoots can carry two. Apples are not as light as you think.. Then we have to take care of all the animals. Winona is a great help when the sheep get loose. She’s a little scared of the horses though. But it’s all part of farm life. And it’s what my family does. Babs and Scootaloo ain’t really used to it though. Babs is from the big city, she’s only come here a few times before the war. Scoots isn’t that much of a farmer. She wants to be a pilot like Rainbowdash. Granny makes the best food, and the most lip smackingly good zap apple jam.
I worry sometimes. Cause Granny’s old and stuff and if AJ and Mac never come home…and Granny dies. I’m gonna be all by myself. Unless my cousin Braeburn comes to take me to Appleloosa. But then Sweet Apple Acres wouldn’t have anyone to take care of it. I know it sounds silly, but I think of my farm like it’s a living thing. She’s alive though. You have to see her when the sun is setting. Everything is glowing like it’s on fire. The air smells like apples and the mustiness of earth. Nothing's better than a sun soaked farmhouse after a day of hard work in the fields. Every Apple can agree on that. At least it used to be like that...before this darn war.
I know I’ll get a bad grade on this paper cause I’m never real good at writing stuff. Not any good at math either, but whatever. I’ll worry ‘bout it when my life’s not so messed up.
Applebloom set down her pencil, shaking her hand to get rid of the awful cramping. Stupid schoolwork, she thought skimming the rows of words scribbled on her page. She didn’t want to talk about her family, it was too hard. Everyday she had to live with the reminder that her big brother and sister were far away and in constant danger. Worst of all there was nothing she could do about it. Gritting her teeth she squeezed her eyes shut trying not to let the tears fall. She imagined her sister, sitting beside her with arms open, ready to embrace her and never let her go. When the youngest Apple’s eyes opened she only saw an empty bedroom.
Pushing herself away from her desk Applebloom let out a shout of frustration. Her life had gone on a long spiral downwards since the beginning of three summers ago.
“Applebloom?” a raspy voice asked, the door creaking open. Frowning Applebloom swiveled around and faced one of her oldest friends.
“Yeah Scootaloo?” she asked irritably. Rubbing the back of her neck the short haired girl shrugged.
“Dinner’s ready and uh, I guess I was gonna ask if you were okay.”
“I’m fine.” Applebloom snapped jumping up from her chair and shoving all of her failed paper attempts into the trash bin including the one she’d just written. Scootaloo watched with one hand on the doorknob and an understanding look on her face.
“I miss them too, all of them.” Applebloom froze, her body shaking with suppressed sobs. Scootaloo took one careful step toward her friend. “And I’m sure…” she stopped before plastering a confident look to her face. “I know that they’re coming home soon. The war can’t last forever Bloom.”
“Don’t call me that!” Applebloom yelled, slamming a fist down onto the desk. “Only they get to call me that! And they’re gone!” Scootaloo swallowed, trying to keep a tough face for her friend.
“They aren’t gone, just…” she trailed off trying to find a better way to finish that statement. Applebloom turned to her friend fresh tears streaming down her reddened cheeks. Her fists were clenched at her sides and her bow was slightly askew.
“Just what? In a better place? I’ve lost a lot of people in my life Scoots. First my ma and pa when I was jus’ little and now my big brother and sister are off who knows where killing other people with guns and gettin’ hurt!” The girl took a deep breath her chest heaving.
“Applebloom-”
“There’s no way you can tell me that they’re gonna be ‘just fine’ cause they ain’t! AJ’s scared...she told me in her last letter. They’re all scared. An’ I dunno if they’re even alive! That Sombra guy is powerful...he’s got allies that’re…” she stopped seeing the look on Scootaloo’s face.
The girl was trying her best to hide her tear filled eyes as she wiped her nose on her sleeve.
“You’re not alone.” she said quietly. “I didn’t even have a family until three years ago and then just when I think everything's golden...Dash had to leave.” Taking a shuddering breath Scootaloo stood beside her friend, who was about a foot taller, and wrapped one arm around her. “I miss her too, and I know it’s hard but you know what our sisters taught us? What they are known for?” Applebloom tilted her head and stared down at the shorter girl.
“What’s that?” she asked. Scootaloo smiled.
“Well they taught us to be brave and they taught us to be strong. So let's be brave and strong for them. Let’s keep the farm going for Applejack and I’ll keep up Dash’s plane for her.” Applebloom blinked.
“You know how to take care of an airplane?” she asked an eyebrow raised. Scootaloo puffed out her chest.
“Course I do! I mean the world’s next best pilot has to start young!” Applebloom chuckled.
“Know how to fly that thing?” Scootaloo looked away.
“Sorta?” she answered. This provoked another chuckle from the red headed girl.
“Thanks Scoots.” she said wiping away the tears still adorning her cheeks. Scootaloo nodded doing the same.
“You’re kinda scary when you get like that.” she muttered. Applebloom sighed.
“I can’t help it. I’m not the best at controlling my emotions.” Scootaloo nodded.
“I saw that. Do you want to eat now? I’m starving!” Giving Scootaloo a playful shove, Applebloom ran to the door, throwing it wide open and waiting for Scootaloo’s eyes to meet hers.
“Race ya.” she said before disappearing down the hallway.
“Hey!” Scootaloo shouted before following her with laughter echoing behind them.
***
The house smelled different. It was one of things Applebloom noticed more now, all the little changes the war had made in her world. Even after one of Granny’s homemade meals, which were rare these days, the house still stunk of oil, smoke and sour apples.
Applebloom walked down the main hall her boots clicking on the wooden floors. Like almost everything else she owned they were hand me downs from Applejack. Applebloom felt proud to wear them, as she did when wearing her mother’s bows. Her amber eyes glanced at the photo covered walls, a small smile on her lips as she viewed frozen moments of days long ago. There was one of Applejack, Big Mac and her swimming in the water hole down the road when she was younger and one of Granny sleeping in her rocking chair. There were photos of Applejack at the rodeo and of Mac hauling apples.
Applebloom felt her cheeks heat in embarrassment as she spied a photograph of herself as a baby with a diaper on her head. As she reached the end of the hall one photo made her tear up.
There in vibrant color was her family, when it was whole. Her mother, father, grandmother siblings and herself, the day Applebloom had been born.
Tracing a finger over her parents faces the girl felt a wave of sadness overtake her once more. Forcing herself to turn away from the memories of her mother and father, Applebloom continued to the front door. Tugging a woolen coat from the coat rack she shoved the door open before stepping out into the night.
***
The sky was clear so that she could see the stars. It was a nice change from the usual choked smoke view. Applebloom sighed her eyes searching the stars for any sign of something special, some sort of sign to assure everything would be alright. When nothing happened the girl hung her head. She expected as much. Biting her lip the girl looked at the stars once more.
“Please...If there is some sort of god out there…” she paused blinking back tears. “Can ya...couldcha please bring my brother and sister home?” Her hands gripped the tree branch tighter as she stared upwards. A cool night wind blew her hair out of her face and loosened her bow. Reaching back and slipping the bow from its usual place on her head the girl tucked it into her pocket. Pale moonlight shone on the girl’s face, illuminating her freckled cheeks and bright amber eyes wet with tears. Applebloom swallowed still staring determinedly at the night sky. As if on cue, a single star seemed to twinkle. It’s glare brighter than its neighboring stars. Applebloom felt a gasp exit her mouth and at the same time she felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time, hope.
“Applebloom!” a rough voice shouted from below. Glancing down Applebloom saw the worried face of her cousin. “Granny wants you inside.”
“Coming!” Applebloom said happily. She clambered down the tree and stood beside Babs.
“You okay?” the city kid said uneasily. Applebloom smiled, her teeth white against darkness.
“I am now, let’s get inside before Granny gets real mad.” with that she grabbed Babs by the arm and lead her back toward the farm house.
The early morning sun was a familiar sight to the three girls as they stood at the front door, looking over the farm and deciding who got to do what that day.
“I think Scoots should deal with the chickens.” Applebloom snickered earning a scowl from her shorter friend.
“Can’t you let that go already? I accidently fell asleep in the coop once.” she said bitterly. Babs shook her head, blowing her bangs from her face.
“Nah it’s too funny to let go.” Scootaloo crossed her thin arms over her chest and pouted. Babs sighed and blew another few locks of hair out of her eyes. She leaned against the door frame not excited for another day's work. “Besides at least they like you. When I go near them they all kinda freak out.” Applebloom smiled.
“Not used to handling animals are ya?” she nudged her cousin as she headed toward the barn. “I’m going ta check on the machines, you wanna come with while Scoots checks out the birds?” Babs nodded anything to avoid the demon chickens.
Scootaloo made a face but accepted her fate as the chicken handler and made her way over to the chicken coops.
“Babs, you miss your folks much?” Applebloom asked quietly as they neared the barn entrance. Babs shrugged.
“We were never that close to be honest. But yeah I miss ‘em.” she looked suspiciously at her redheaded cousin. “Why?” Applebloom’s eyes wandered as she turned the key to unlock the barn doors.
“I was jus’ thinkin’ that’s all.”
“Oh.”
The barn’s interior, while it once was spacious with the only decor being farm tools and hay, had been transformed into a metal wonderland. Huge machines stood against the red wood walls of the structure, ropes held pots in place and conveyer belts were strung from machine to machine. Slanted shadows stretched across the barn’s oil stained floor and the dm lights did nothing to improve the atmosphere.
Everything was silent now and eerily still. Applebloom swallowed as she tried to not taste the acrid air, she should really be wearing a mask right now.
Faint traces of steam lingered in the humid barn, and cans of apples rested lazily in one huge pile.
“Look at this.” Applebloom said sadly her eyes tracing every metal edge and curve of the machines. Babs bit her lip.
“It’s kinda sad.” she remarked, her tone soft with pity. Applebloom kicked a rust covered can and let out a frustrated yell through gritted teeth.
“It ain’t fair!” she spat, pressing buttons and pulling levers. The barn seemed to come alive, the sounds of pistons and clanging metal filling the dust filled air. Babs watched her cousin work for a few moments longer noting the way her hands worked the controls flawlessly, how effortlessly she lifted containers of water or how well she measured how much time between when each apple load dropped into the cooking pot.
“You’ve gotten better.” she said carefully. Applebloom glared at her.
“You could help too.” Babs sighed and nodded toward outside.
“I’ll check if the apple store is stocked up and if it isn’t I can go out and pick some more. I’ll get Scootaloo picking anyways.” Applebloom nodded and gave Babs a quick salute. Babs smiled and returned the gesture before scampering outside. “Oh and get yourself a mask!” she called as the door swung shut on her heels.
***
Scootaloo stretched her arm up into the depths of the apple tree her fingers closing carefully around the round fruit. With a twist and jerk the apple was in her hand and she set it into her bucket. The sun beat down on her neck and she could feel sweat soak the back of her t-shirt. She chose to ignore the uncomfortable wetness and continue with her apple picking. After a few more apples and nursing a cramped arm, she stole a glance back at the barn where she could hear the ringing of metal on metal and the faint sound of some old country record, Applebloom’s favorite to be exact. Scootaloo knew that if the farm girl was playing those records, then she was pretty upset. She couldn’t blame her for acting like she was, she knew how connected Applebloom’s family had been and how losing her siblings must have made her feel. Scootaloo missed Rainbow Dash, her older sister and everyday she worried about whether or not she’d get the chance to see her again. This worry gnawed at her insides and twisted her thoughts giving her nightmares and infecting her waking thoughts from exhaustion. It had broken her about a year ago and she had just collapsed, shutting herself away from both Applebloom and Babs. It wasn’t a pleasant time for anybody on the farm and Scootaloo could remember the times when she’d felt hopeless. The times she’d fallen under the spell of the war’s misery when she’d seen no happy endings for anyone, and the time she had stood in front of the knife rack...
Applebloom had stayed strong for her, always standing tall when she needed someone to rely on and now Scootaloo had to be there for her best friend. She had to be strong too.
“Hello?” a new voice said, decidedly male. Scootaloo jerked around, surprised at such a visitor. Hardly anyone came by the farm anymore, the town being nearly deserted and all. Grumbling something the girl got down from the ladder and set down her basket. The man was tall and thin with a metal brace supporting his leg. His head was just beginning to show the fuzziness of a outgrown buzz cut. Piercing blue eyes stared down at her, tight lips pressed together nervously. “This is still Sweet Apple Acres right?” he stuttered looking at the swirls of smoke drifting above the treeline. Scootaloo crossed her arms over her chest and nodded. The man smiled in apparent relief. “That’s good. I thought I might have gone to the wrong place.” he rubbed the back of his neck as Scootaloo continued to frown. “Uh… is Big Mac here?” Scootaloo’s frown deepened.
“No.” she answered sharply hoping the man would go away. Confusion spread across the man’s face.
“Really? I thought he worked on this farm.” Scootaloo sighed.
“He did, at least three years ago.” The man frowned, shifting his weight as he looked back at the farmhouse and barn.
“Where is he then?” Scootaloo wanted to punch him, the man was getting on her nerves.
“He’s in the war you idiot! Everybody is!” she spat angrily. The man’s eyes went wide and he stepped back.
“He’s in the war?” he asked quietly. Scootaloo nodded irritably.
“Yeah, why aren’t you?” the man shrugged.
“I was injured pretty bad, can’t fight well enough anymore. They sent me home.” Scootaloo nodded eyeing his leg.
“But you can still walk can’t you? You don’t look that bad.” Anger flickered behind the man’s blue gaze as he crossed his arms over his chest, mirroring the younger girl.
“I’ve healed.” he stated simply. “Besides, you wouldn’t understand. I’ve lost more than my ability to walk properly.” The girl hefted the apple basket.
“I’ve lost things too mister and if you don’t mind I have chores to do.” she brushed past him and marched toward the barn.
“Wait!” the man called, “Is Applejack here?” Scootaloo froze turning around slowly. The man’s breathing was labored as he caught up with her. “I want to talk to her.”
“She’s gone too dude, the only Apples that live here now are Applebloom, Granny and Babs.” Shock rippled across the man’s face as he registered the fact.
“W-What? AJ’s in the war as well?” he said quietly. The young girl nodded, confused at the man’s concern.
“Weren’t you in the army?” she accused. “Didn’t you see them?” The man shook his head looking troubled.
“No, I wasn’t in the army. I was in the navy and well...I honestly didn’t know they were drafted.” his eyes pleaded with her, begging her to believe him. Scootaloo sighed.
“It’s fine mister, but I actually have stuff to do so if that’s all you're here for…” she trailed off watching his face fall.
“Yeah, I’ll leave you be...but may I please visit Granny? I want to at least speak with her.” Scootaloo shrugged.
“Only if she lets you. She’s kinda unpredictable when it comes to soldiers these days. Keeps thinking that they’re coming to tell her some sorta terrible news.” The man nodded slowly before turned toward the farm house.
“She’s at the house, right?” Scootaloo nodded.
“Yeah so see ya!” she said walking off with her basket, a feeling of dread overwhelming her thoughts.
