The Apples Secret

After being comforted by her friends and spending some much-needed quality time with them, she went back home to Sweet Apple Acres. As much lifted as she feels, the dream from last night still weighed on her mind. She had to know if the secret part of the orchard truly existed. She entered the back of the orchard, walking through the woods until she had entered the orchards. Sure enough, after passing a few normal apple trees, she found a wooden fence around a small part of the orchard she used to be warned to stay away from. She took a deep breath and ran back, readied herself, and charged at the fence, jumping over it. It was higher than any other fences built on their property, but with her strong legs she had made it over. She walked forward and saw the ponified apple trees just like the ones from her dreams. Applejack felt sick to her stomach and nearly threw up. It really exists, she thought, my granny was right. It really does exist! "A.J.?!" Apple Jack whipped around and saw her big brother staring at her in disbelief. "What're you doing here?! You know ya ain't s'posed to be here!" Big Mac was upset and confused.

"I-it's okay Big Mac! I know about the secret" Big Mac was taken aback.

"Y-ya do? How?"

"Granny told me. About Aunt Honey Crisp, the accident, everything" Applejack looked down at the ground, Big Mac sighed and walked up to her.

"Then... it's time for you to know about Granny's death" Applejack's head shot up at her brother. He knew how Granny Smith had passed away. He waved his head, signaling for her to follow. She followed close behind him to a tree set off from the rest, a tree with an old resting pony face. Applejack gasped,

"Granny Smith?!"

"Granny was poisoned by somepony, somepony who knows about this orchard. Course, she didn't turn as fast as the other ponies. That's why she fell ill, someone tried to replicate the tea that Aunt Honey Crisp made all those years ago. " Applejack turned to look at her brother, her eyes filled with curiosity.

"A-are our parents here too?" Big Mac shook his head. She sighed with relief and asked another question. "Do you have any idea who could've done this to her?"

"Nope, that's what makes this whole thing odd. I went to Goldie Delicious to ask if Granny or the Apples had any enemies, but even she didn't know."

"Does she know about the secret?" AppleJack grew curious as to how many of her family members knew about this secret or if it was just them. She tried to prepare herself for his answer, but even that seemed hard to do.

"She does along with the rest of our older relatives" AppleJack approached Granny Smith's tree and reached out, but hesitated to touch the tree. Something about this place still didn't sit right with her.

"Ma n' Pa knew about this place too, didn't they?" Big Mac gave a nod. Applejack turned to her brother and looked at him sternly, "But that's not all, there's more to it, isn't there?"

"Now hold on there sis-" AppleJack cut him off before he could finish. She had so many questions and all she had were few answers.

"Why don't we just cut these trees down? Get rid of this part of the orchard! If we get rid of the apples, no one will be in danger again!"

"I'm afraid we can't do that" Big Mac stopped AppleJack from continuing. He walked up to her, he had looked more serious
than AppleJack had ever seen him. "It's not as simple as that. This place isn't just a poisonous orchard, it's more than that"

"What do you mean?" AppleJack's voice quivered a little, afraid of the answer she was about to receive.

"Think, AppleJack, why doesn't Ponyville have a graveyard?" AppleJack's world had stopped. She looked around the orchard, all terrified pony faces that were in her nightmare were at peace right before her, not a single face held anguish. However, as she looked closer at some of the faces, she had recognized some familiar faces that had been dead for years. It was then she understood, this was Ponyville's graveyard. "When Granny and the rest of our ancestors first settled here, the Everfree Forest wasn't as tame as she lead us to believe when we were younger. After they planted the zap apple trees, the forest grew restless and started to take over the orchard. Granny and them tried to stop it, but nothing seemed to work as the vines weren't the same ones from the forest. Due to the new plantation for the trees, the vines had changed. After Aunt Honey Crisps' death and burial, a new tree emerged and this part of the orchard and the vines had disappeared back into the ground. That's when this part of the orchard was deemed a graveyard." Apple Jack and Big Mac had walked to Honey Crisps' tree that sat on the very edge of the Everfree Forest. It stood as a symbol and warning for everyone who knew the secret of the Sweet Apple Orchard.

"You said ma and pa weren't buried here. Where are they buried?" AppleJack had never known the true location of their
burial spot as that too was kept a secret from her and Apple Bloom for unknown reasons.

"Not even I know that." Apple Jack sighed, unsatisfied with Big Mac's answer. Big Mac reached a hoof out to his sister and they turned to walk out of the orchard graveyard. Apple Jack rubbed her head as it began to throb, she had learned so much in such a short amount of time, it was hard to process. Big Mac looked at AppleJack, making a note of her physical state. AppleJack saw his worried expression,

"I'm ok, just don't feel well" Once they arrived back on the orchard path, darkness had already consumed the sky leaving only the moonlight to guide the way. AppleJack soon became grateful to be in a familiar area and sped up to reach home with Big Mac right behind her. Once inside their childhood home, they saw Apple Bloom had left them a note explaining that she would be staying over at Rarity's place with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Apple Jack thanked Celestia that Apple Bloom didn't have to see her terrible state. She didn't want to worry her little sister any more than she already had. She decided to jump in the shower to wash off not only all the dirt and mud on her but the feeling of death and disgust. She did not want to think about that part of the orchard anymore and hoped that once she laid down, she would have a good night's sleep. Who am I kiddin'? Learnin', this new truth ain't gonna make me sleep any better than before when I was just dealin' with Granny's death. Applejack thought defeated once again. Once dried off, she went into her room and took off the old hat her dad gave her when she was still a young filly. She remembered the fond memories she had with her parents and wished to see them even for just a moment. She yawned and walked over to her bed to crawl in. She let her eyes close and relaxed her body ready for whatever would appear in the dream realm.