Living in a time of Autumn

Chapter 5.

The dinner went faster than Applejack wished. It would seem that Apple Bloom had one final surprise for her to experience, and the pleas that came when Applejack voiced that she was starting to feel tired after the meal. “You can’t be tired yet! We haven’t even got to where you will be sleeping tonight.” Said Apple Bloom.

“I would suppose here?” Wondered Applejack.

“No silly, we are going camping outside in the woods! Don’t worry, I already have everything set up, I had it all done yesterday while you were at school. Come on, it will be fun!” Said Apple Bloom enthusiastically.

“Very well, I could never refuse your requests anyway.” Said Applejack.

“That’s my little sister!” Said Apple Bloom happily.

As they once again, traversed the forest for what seemed like the last time. It was much cooler now, and the moon shone overhead and made interesting shadows with the trees. They both stopped to listen and enjoy the trees that moved with the wind. Not to be dissuaded from their course, Apple Bloom continued into the direction they were going. Finally reaching another clearing, this time with a square area that Applejack assumed was for setting up the tent.

They both stared at the tent, when suddenly Apple Bloom started to giggle. “It’s been awhile since I have set up a tent. I should have done it before it got dark. Oh well.” She said and shrugged. The setting up of the tent went surprisingly easy, as Applejack had some knowledge, but in a new body it wasn’t easy.

Eventually they finished, and Apple Bloom brought out some blankets for the two of them to lie down and look at the sky. While she was setting that up, Applejack was hard at work trying to light a fire, unsuccessfully. The matchbox that Apple Bloom gave her completely confused her, and she kept on breaking the little sticks that were supposedly light on fire if she stroked them hard enough.

Apple Bloom finished setting up the beds and came over to her sister, who was still struggling. Smiling, she showed Applejack how it was done, striking it and then cupping it with her hand so that the wind wouldn’t put it out. Lowering herself, she put the flame against the dried leaf pile they had made. Waiting for a moment, the fire eventually lit the leaf on fire. It was still a slow process, so Apple Bloom moved to another side to light the other leaves.

A few minutes later, they eventually got a roaring fire, with plenty of firewood stacked in a neat pile next to it to keep it stable. Staring at the fire, Applejack realised that it was different. In Equestria, the fire was more animated and served as a source of light and a bit of warmth. Yet here, it was so much different. It was like the warmth seeping into her bones. The sight of the flame flickering was intoxicating, and Applejack didn’t notice the Apple Bloom had grabbed something from inside the tent until she was poked gently by her sister.

“I brought some smore supplies.” Said Apple Bloom.

“Smores?” Said Applejack.

“You know, chocolate, marshmallows and graham crackers?” Said Apple Bloom matter-of-factly.

“Oh yeah, I forgot. It’s been awhile since I have had one.” Said Applejack.

“Exactly! Smores are always the necessary snack to have when you are camping!” Said Apple Bloom. She then passed Applejack a stick and placed a marshmallow on it. She then grabbed her own stick and plopped a marshmallow on it as well.

Putting the marshmallow close to the fire, Applejack made sure not to burn it, and get it close to golden. Eventually it ripened, and Apple Bloom had the necessary supplies nearby and Applejack was able to build her first smore. A momentous occasion, if she didn’t immediately eat it. The flavor was even better in this form than in her normal form. The flavor of chocolate mixed with warm marshmallow was an amazing taste. Hungrily eating away, Applejack finished her first one and immediately put a second one on the stick to make another.

Several smores later, and with sticky fingers, Applejack and Apple Bloom climbed into their respective sleeping bags next to each other and stared up into the sky. “Do you see the sky Applejack, it’s a beautiful thing. We humans have polluted it with our lights, but out here in the country, we can see so many more than most people. All the constellations in their spiralling mystery.” Said Apple Bloom.

“Yeah, it sure is cool.” Said Applejack. Almost all the stars she saw were vastly different to the ones that she was used to. She hoped that Apple Bloom would point out the constellations.

“Did you know that Mcintosh had a funny way of looking at the stars? Not only did he see constellation like Hercules and Corona Borealis and the big and little dipper, the ones we were taught to look for. But he would look for the gap between stars and try and form his own constellations. Like looking at clouds and hoping they made shapes, he would look at the empty sky and see the coolest things.” Said Apple Bloom.

The way she explained it was astonishing. Applejack had never thought about looking at the night sky like that. Looking with a new intent, she could see the endless possibilities that were right there! There up in the sky with all the stars. “Mcintosh sure had a creative brain, huh.” Said Applejack.

“He sure did. But like you said, we need to move on. I just hope I can share cool stories with my own children. To leave a legacy.” Said Apple Bloom.

“If you could ask Mcintosh anything, what would you say?” Asked Applejack.

“I would ask him what it was like to live among the heavens now, he always was up there in his head. I would thank him for being such a good brother, and cry that he wasn’t able to form a good relationship with you.” Answered Apple Bloom. The sobering words hit Applejack hard, and she finally let go of her emotions and cried. Surprisingly, Apple Bloom cried with her, and together, they stared into the night sky with wonder in awe. Applejack hugged Apple Bloom and wished she could hug her real sister. It was then, that Applejack fell asleep.