“No Applejack, yer too little and ya can’t just leave yer family.” McIntosh said to his little sister. Even angry he managed to control the volume of his voice
“Now I’m sorry ya feel that way Mac, but I’ve made up ma mind. I can’t live at this muddy old apple farm ma whole life.” Applejack told her brother. “It’s just sumin’ I need to do."
“But AJ, you don’t know no one in Manehatten, and what’ll ya do there anyway? Not t’ mention, who’ll help me with the farm?” McIntosh questioned his little sister.
"Now don’t be silly, Uncle Mosely and Aunt Tangerine live there, I already wrote to them an’ they said I can stay with ‘em, an' I don’t know what I’m gonna do, I haven’t got’n ma cutie mark yet.” She said “An’ you’re a big pony Mac, you can take over ma chores.” Applejack had already planned almost everything, except how she was going to tell her family and what their reaction was going to be.
“She seems t’ be prepared for all this McIntosh and she has a right to live 'er own life.” Granny Smith, calmly told her grandson.
“But she’s just a little pony.” McIntosh responded
“I’m not a baby Mac.” Applejack said to her brother.
“Hush and let the big ponies talk.” McIntosh told her with authority.
“I am a big pony.” Applejack whispered.
“Granny say something to her, tell ‘er she can’t just leave.” McIntosh pleaded with his grandmother.
“McIntosh, hush up with that talk. Applejack we love ya and we’ll always welcome ya back with open hooves, if'n you decide t' come back.” Granny Smith said to her young granddaughter.
“Thanks Granny” Applejack said with a smile. She looked at her big brother, he wouldn’t lose his frown.
“I think it’s time, we all went t’ bed, Applejack yer gonna need t’ get up early for yer trip tomorra.” Granny looked at Applejack and noticed she was a spitting image of her at that age.
“Okay. Ga’night Granny Smith, ga’night McIntosh.” Applejack said as she headed to her room, she was sure it would be for the last time. Granny Smith responded with goodnight, McIntosh stayed silent and walked to his room.
“Goodbye ya’ll, I’ll make sure ta write.” Applejack said as she hugged her granny and big brother one last time.
“Goodbye Applejack” Granny Smith said as she started to cry. McIntosh hadn't said a word all morning. He stood stoically and comforted his grandmother. McIntosh and Granny Smith watched as Applejack left their farm on her way to live in the big city with her Aunt and Uncle Orange.
“Why does she want to go granny?” McIntosh asked Granny Smith. He had been thinking about it all night. He never thought about leaving the farm, trips are fun, but he could never say goodbye forever. It was his home. Sweet Apple Acres is where the Apple clan had gotten its start. He could never turn his back on it like his sister just did.
"I dunno know McIntosh, I guess she thinks she’s missing out on sumin living here, she’s a big pony though, don’t you worry about her.” Granny Smith said trying to reassure her grandson. She wiped away her tears; she had to be strong for him. Her bad eyes lost track of her granddaughter as she walked further and further away.
“But we need her here, we love her. You could’ve told her to stay; she would’ve listened to you.” McIntosh said, trying not to sound angry at his grandmother. He wanted someone to blame, but it was nopony’s fault and he knew it.
“Now hush up. I know we love ‘er and she knows it, but she has t’ make her own choices in life. ‘Sides she woulda just hated me fer it. Do ya want that?”
“Nope.” McIntosh responded, losing sight of his little sister. “Granny, what if she don’t come back?” The young pony asked his grandmother, his voice cracking.
“She’ll still be yer sister and my granddaughter and we’ll love ‘er just the same.” Granny Smith said. She hadn’t actually thought of the possibility that Applejack wouldn’t come back. Applejack had told her granny she wanted to try out the sophisticated life. Granny Smith never saw much in a life without hard work and the farm, and neither did McIntosh, but now she began to wonder, what if Applejack did.
Both ponies walked side by side as they returned to the house. “Mac, I know yer worried, but this is for the best, she’ll come back and the she’ll be happier than ever to be here. You’ll see.” McIntosh walked silently. Both ponies heard crying coming from inside the house. “Oh no, Apple Bloom’s awake. McIntosh, can ya check up on her?”
“Eeyup” McIntosh said quietly as he rushed into the house to check on his baby sister.
“Oh ‘nd another thing.” She called out to her grandson. “I’m gonna need extra help running the farm, now that we’re a hoof short.” Her grandson responded with another eeyup. Both of them would need to work harder now that Applejack was gone. She walked to the front porch and sat in her rocking chair. She could hear McIntosh’s baby talking to Apple Bloom. “What about Apple Bloom?” Granny began to think, “She’s gonna grow up without a sister, without Applejack.” She heard Apple Bloom giggle. “Well, McIntosh is a good big brother, he took care of Applejack after what happened to their folks, ‘nd she turned inta a fine pony, he’ll do the same for Apple Bloom. An’ maybe she’ll just want to leave when she’s older too.” McIntosh walked out of the house with a cooing foal on his back, her coat was the same color as her big sister’s mane. Granny Smith began to tear up again. McIntosh saw his grandmother wipe her eyes. He knew he needed to be strong for her.
“Now don’t you worry ‘bout a thing granny,” he said with a weak smile “I can do Applejack’s chores and we can both take care of Apple Bloom. We’ll be alright.” Caring for a foal is a full time job, but Applejack somehow managed to look after her little sister and work on the farm, even being as small as she was .
“I know we will Mac, now give that little filly here.” Granny Smith said as she took Apple Bloom from McIntosh. The foal fell asleep as her grandmother’s cradled her. “This one has the right idea McIntosh, I think I’m gonna take a nap too.” Granny Smith told her grandson as she dozed off.
“Okay granny, I’m gonna go get started on ma chores.” McIntosh whispered to his sleeping grandmother. He looked out at the road Applejack used to leave them; he began to cry as made his way toward the apple orchard.
“McIntosh, get yer plot over here! I made ya breakfast!” Granny Smith called out to her grandson. McIntosh had been working the fields since dusk and had skipped dinner the night before. He had been skipping meals to make sure all the work gets done. Granny Smith could see him walking over to her and Apple Bloom, the plow still attached to him. She had prepared the table with all of his favorite food. “Mac take that thing off and come eat wit’ yer family.” Granny Smith said as she poured him a glass of orange juice. McIntosh sat next to his baby sister who was eating from a small bowl. He began eating eggs with a piece of toast. Apple Bloom giggled and splashed her apple sauce around the table. “Apple Bloom, mind yer table manners.” Granny Smith told the foal.
“Apple! Apple!” Apple Bloom answered as she continued splashing the mush onto her big brother. McIntosh nuzzled his sister’s mane and continued eating. Apple Bloom learned her first word the day after her sister left and she was learning more of them very quickly. She was getting bigger and would be starting school in a few months.
“This little one’s sure is a handful.” And look at you McIntosh, all this farm work and you haven’t grown a lick of muscle.” She said as she drank her morning prune juice. “Well no need t’ worry ‘bout that, pretty soon you’ll be the biggest pony in Ponyville, then maybe even I’ll start calling ya ‘Big McIntosh.’ How ‘bout that?” She asked with a smile. McIntosh was silent. “Which reminds me; we got another letter from Applejack.” Granny Smith told to her grandson, Applejack had been sending a letter to them once every week since she left. “She’s usin’ a lot of big words, guessin’ yer aunt and uncle had been teachin’ her a lot.” McIntosh stayed silent. “Anyways, she says she still having trouble sleepin’, it’s really loud in the city, ya know. An’ that she misses us an’ not to worry she’s having a fine time.” McIntosh finished his eggs. “So that’s good, I guess, hmm?” She asked trying to get McIntosh to say something.
“Eeyup.” He answered as he grabbed a plate of apple slices.
“Please Mac, you’ve hardly say more than two words since yer sister left. Now I’m gonna write a letter and send it t' 'er tomorra, is there anything ya’d like me t’ say fer ya?”
“Nope.” McIntosh said as he reached for the leftover apple pie his Granny Smith had baked the night day before. She pulled it away from him.
“No mister, no pie til you tell me sumin' I can write to yer sister.” Granny Smith said as she covered the pie with her hooves.
“Come home.” He said, Granny Smith sighed and gave him a slice.
“Okay, fine, but I want ya ta get out of this slump. Can ya do that fer me?” Granny Smith had been having a hard time without her granddaughter, but McIntosh had taken it worse. Some nights she was able to hear him crying in his room. McIntosh didn’t respond.
“Now McIntosh, remember what ---” Granny Smith was stopped by an incredibly loud explosion.
“Macky, Granny, look.” Apple Bloom said, smiling and pointing at the sky above. “Rainbow boom. Rainboom!” She yelled clapping her hooves.
“Mac you got that book learnin’, what in tarnation is that?” Granny Smith asked, McIntosh could only stare and smile. And for a second he forgot all about his sister and just knew that everything would be okay.
“I don’t know.” He said as he picked up his baby sister so she could get a better look.
“Rainbow boom. Rainboom!” She yelled still smiling.
“Sure is.” McIntosh said to his little sister. When the colorful display in the sky began to fade he set his sister down and stood next his grandmother.
“I miss them.” McIntosh said with tears in his eyes. Granny Smith knew that McIntosh wasn’t only upset about his sister. He had lost his parents too and the only person who knew how he felt wasn’t with him anymore.“I know ya do Mac. I miss ‘em too and I love ‘em with all my heart.” Granny Smith said as she hugged her grandson. “But Applejack’s still with us and we gotta make sure she never forgets that we love ‘er. Just remember that she’ll always be yer little sister.” McIntosh dried his tears. The two stood in silence for a what felt like hours.
“Um … Granny.” McIntosh said quietly.
“What is it Mac?” Granny Smith asked holding tightly onto her grandson.
“I, uh, gotta go buck the Red Delicious trees.” McIntosh said.
“Oh, alright, if’n you think that that’s more important than hugging yer granny, then I’ll let ya go.” Granny Smith said with a chuckle. McIntosh nuzzled Apple Bloom and left to go work in the apple orchard. Hard work always helped him deal with is feelings. He passed the road his little his sister had taken to leave their farm and looked out into the hills she disappeared behind; he was finally able to look without crying. He continued his until noticing a shadow coming from a distance. As the figure got closer he saw it was pony, an orange and blonde pony.
“Granny!” He yelled, it was the first time in months he had raised his voice. “Granny, come here. Hurry!”
“I’m coming as fast as I can!” He heard his granny yell back at him. She stood with him at the farm’s entrance. The pony was running, getting closer and closer. “My word.” McIntosh heard his granny gasp. He began jumping back and forth, he never felt so happy. The small filly rushed into their embrace. The family stood at the farms archway in silence. McIntosh hugged his sister as hard as he could.
“Hey Big McIntosh, cut it out you’re gonna break me.” The filly said to her big brother. He ignored her.
“Hey AJ, you yer got cutie mark.” He said, unable to let go of his sister.
“Really! What is it?” She said as she struggled to get out of her big brother’s hooves. “Big McIntosh c’mon, let go, I want t’ see it.” McIntosh held on tight, he promised himself that he would never let her go again.
