It is sometime after midnight as Applejack awakens. She looks out her window to see the moon still hanging high in the sky. Its usual cool pale glow joined by another warmer orange light. Fearing a possible fire Applejack jumps from bed throwing her quilt from her legs. Leaning on the window sill peering down at the barn next to the house. She notices a light on inside, but no sign of movement besides the flicker of flame.

They never bothered to hook up electricity to the old barn. So there is no other way for it to be lit up except by the few lanterns they keep inside. Worried she throws on a pair of pants and heads out to the barn.

The large doors are open just wide enough for a person to slip through. Applejack shivers as she peers inside catching a glimpse of a large shirtless figure standing stock-still in the middle of the barn. A lantern sitting on the ground next to him. Casting shadows all around as the flame flickers. Applejack thinks she catches the hint of a whisper on the wind. She twitches her ears forward in an attempt to hear better. Frowning when only silence greets her.

Applejack waits for a few more seconds, but curiosity and the cold gets the better of her and she slips inside. Keeping to the edge as she creeps around the side of the stallion. Recognizing the stallion before her.

Applejack gasps in surprise, "Big Mac whatcha doin in here?"

Stepping forward Applejack presses a hand to Big Mac's shoulder, giving it a firm squeeze, but gets no response. She looks at the side of her brother's face. He is staring off at the far side of the barn unblinking with such an intense gaze. Jaw set in a firm frown.

Panic swells up in her breast as Applejack steps in front of Big Mac, gripping both shoulders tightly shaking him. Big Mac barely even budges the brick wall that he is. Applejack steps back waving her hands in Big Macs face. Still no reaction, Applejack sighs, unsure of what to do next. A cool wind blows in and she shivers against it.

"Big brother come on speak to me. move! do something!" Applejack pleads stepping forward once again.

Wrapping her arms around Big Mac's waist as she presses her head against his broad muscled chest. Nuzzling into his crimson fur as tears prickle at the corners of her eyes.

"Surry"

Applejack shoots back her arms stretching out as her hands go to Big Macs' hips, "What?"

Her eyes searching his face frantically, but there is no sign that anything has changed. Applejack sighs once again her forehead landing against Big Mac's chest along with her hands as she bows her head in defeat. It was hopeless she couldn't get him to snap out of it.

Applejack didn't want to hit Big Mac but she was beginning to think that was the only course of action that might actually work. Applejack closes her eyes stepping back from Big Mac. Taking a deep breath Applejack let it out slowly as she opens her eyes. She raises her hand ready to smack him and just as she swings. Big Mac clicks on eyes focusing on Applejack. His body slackens.

"AJ?" her name falls from Big Macs' lips like a plea. His eyes tearing up.

Applejack manages to stop her hand just short of hitting Big Macs' cheek. Her fingertips slacken as they gently brush through the fur of his cheek.

"Big Mac?" Applejack couldn't believe he'd actually snapped out of it. She is glad that she doesn't have to smack Big Mac though. Her hand falling back to her side.

"Ahm so sorry AJ," Big Mac says suddenly grabbing Applejack in a crushing bear hug.

Applejack gasps as the air is knocked out of her lungs. wrapping her own arms around Big Mac's neck as he lifts her a ways off the ground. She buries her muzzle into the crook of his neck a wave of relief blooming in her chest. She's used to his bear hugs. The crushing warmth of them always makes her feel safe and loved. But something isn't quite right with this one. It's too strong, too desperate, it makes Applejack feel suffocated.

"There's nothin ta apologize fer big brother" Applejack spoke as she nuzzles into Big Mac. Trying to ignore the worry gnawing at her gut.

"Ahm so sorry" Big Mac repeats into Applejack's mane. His fingers gripping at the fabric of her nightshirt. An echo of what his desperate words are doing to her heart.

Applejack pushes back against Big Mac leaning away as she tries to break free of his hold on her. Something definitely isn't right here and she aims to figure out just what it is. His hold however only tightens as he repeats his apologies like a desperate plea.

The immense sorrow in Big Mac's voice and on his face breaks Applejacks' heart. She has no idea what to do, or why Big Mac has snapped out of one trance only to fall into another. Panic replaces her relief once again as she begins to struggle harder. She feels her brother's grip loosen for a moment and takes her chance finally escaping his hold.

Applejack steps just far enough away from Big Mac so that he has to move to grab her again. She takes a moment to catch her breath. Breasts heaving. Before confronting the problem of her older brother once again. When she looks back up at him, Big Mac looks broken. Tears trail down his face. Carving dark paths into his crimson fur. His green eyes wide and wet with sorrow.

It's like he'd done something so terrible. He didn't feel like he could ever be forgiven. However, he hasn't done anything, as far as she knows, besides standing like a statue in the middle of the barn for Celestia knew how long. Perhaps Big Mac had seen something that had caused the trance and the flood of apologies. Applejack isn't sure but she knows she needs to get her brother inside and into bed out of this cold freezing air. Maybe once he's slept things would return to normal.

Applejack carefully steps back into Big Macs space, "Come on big brother. let's get ya ta bed"

Big Mac makes to grab Applejack again lifting his arms as he stretches them out to her. She gently pushes them back down with a shake of her head. Applejack leans down extinguishing the lantern before turning Big Mac around moving her hands to his back as he follows her direction. Turning to face the door out of the barn. She keeps a slight but constant pressure on his back as she walks next to him keeping him moving forward on shuffling hooves.

They enter the main house without further incident beyond Big Mac's constant apologies. Applejack closes the front door behind them as she guides Big Mac up the stairs. They reach the top landing just as Applebloom pokes her head out rubbing her eyes sleepily as she yawns.

"Sis?" Applebloom questions opening one eye curiously.

"Go back ta bed Applebloom" Applejack orders stepping between Big Mac and Applebloom not ready to deal with the avalanche of questions she is sure their sister has waiting behind those curious yet still tired crimson eyes.

"What's up with Big Mac?" Applebloom persists. Finally registering that Big Mac is standing beside Applejack like a very tall shadow in the dark hallway.

"Nothin now get ta bed," Applejack says more sternly this time. Trying to push Big Mac further down the hall and closer to his room.

"Ah'm so surry AJ" Big Mac mumbles at her side.

"What's he Surry fer?" Applebloom questions stepping further into the hallway. Eyes bright with curiosity.

"Ah don't know, just get ta bed please ah'll explain in the morning." Applejack pleads turning to fully face her little sister as she tries to ward her off.

"Fine but ya better promise ta tell me tomorrow" Applebloom reluctantly let up, scowling at Applejack before turning and heading back into her room.

"I will. G'night" Applejack calls after her.

"Night" the door shuts behind her.

Applejack feels bad leaving Applebloom in the dark but it isn't like Applejack knows much more herself. She frowns at her sister's closed bedroom door moving back to guide Big Mac to his room. Just a couple feet down from where they stand.

"Surry" Came his mumbled chant. He'd been mumbling different variations of it all the way into the house.

"What on Earth did you see in that barn big brother?" Applejack questions under her breath as she shakes her head.

Applejack steps around Big Mac opening the door. Only to have him latch onto her again from behind. She sighs pulling him into the room and over to the bed. She's lucky he moves with her willingly or else they would have been stuck at the door until she broke free. As it was Applejack still had to try to break free of him. She twists and shoves uselessly against his hold.

Realizing it's futile, Applejack leverages her bodyweight causing both of them to fall onto the bed. Now she just has to wait for Big Mac to fall asleep. He drifts off hold loosening and Applejack slips free. Leaving Big Mac to sleep still murmuring about being sorry to her. She leaves the room quietly closing the door behind her.
Applejack crosses the hall to her own room. Closing the door behind her as well. Slipping off her pants and getting into bed. A shiver runs through her as she pulls her quilt over her body wrapping it tightly around her. She settles into her pillows as the questions in her head float around. She hopes Big Mac will have answers for her in the morning.

******

Elsewhere in Equestria, Twilight Sparkle awakes to the sound of someone banging on her front door. Groaning in irritation she gets out of bed. The knocking persists as she grabs her robe pulling it on and cinching it at the waist. She opens the door and heads down the stairs to answer the door. She yawns as she reaches the landing combing her fingers through her mane to make it somewhat more presentable. She opens the door surprised to see the pony on the other side.

"Shining!" Twilight exclaims purple eyes widening in surprise.

"Hey Twily, sorry to wake you." Shining Armor says giving an apologetic smile. Shifting uncomfortably from hoof to hoof.

"Well come on in, weren't you supposed to be in Canterlot?" Twilight asks as she steps aside letting her brother in.

Shining Armor steps in and turns around to face her, "Yeah..." a nervous smile spreads across his face as Twilight stares at him suspiciously. An unasked question in her big purple eyes.

"Just thought I'd come for a visit to see how my little sis is doing." Shining Armor says by way of an answer.

Twilight knows her brother is hiding something, dodging the real reason for his visiting her at such an odd hour. Twilight would like to drill Shining Armor for answers as she normally would. However, she isn't in the mood for playing twenty dodged questions and is eager to get back to her warm bed upstairs.

"We'll talk about the real reason you're here in the morning." Twilight decides giving her brother a pointed stare.

"Thank you Twily," Shining Armor says softly. Head bowing apologetically.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm going back to bed. Would you like me to show you to the guest room?" Twilight asks as she makes her way back upstairs.

"No, I'll be fine you back on to bed twily. Goodnight"

"Goodnight shiny" Twilight says with a soft smile and disappears at the top of the stairs.

Left alone on the main floor Shining Armor sighs. He isn't looking forward to trying to answer all the questions Twilight will have for him in the morning. He is however determined to keep his baby sister safe. He spends the entire rest of the night searching through the library for any kind of answer to his current problem. There had to be some kind of explanation for what he saw. What he heard and why.

Twilight crawls back into bed curling up under her covers. Her robe discarded on a nearby chair. She wonders about the distant concerned look in her brothers' blue eyes. She wishes she wasn't so tired. She hasn't slept in two days and keeping her eyes open any longer is simply impossible.

"Twilight" Twilight thinks she hears a voice whisper as she falls back into a deep sleep.

Author's Note

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and would love to hear any speculations you all might have.
I love feed back of any kind.
Kisses ~
~Mango Syrup