Courier
The stars, the moon, the way the grass flowed, how the leaves gently hushed against the warm, night-time breeze. Everything was perfect tonight, the temperature, the slight breeze, and the clouds above that didn't block the stars, but instead magnified them. He knew it wouldn't stay this way long. He had always been taught that this kind of perfect weather never ended up being as perfect as it was the day before. But he also knew that the upcoming storm would not hit his family's lush, green orchard. Granny had taught him that when the leaves utter only a soft whisper in the perfect night, the wind isn't going to be strong enough to bring the big storm all the way to Ponyville. Still, it was hard to believe that a night this wonderful, a night so beautiful that even the work of a thousand pegasi could not replicate, was going to produce a storm. The issues about to arise from this stunning night began soon after the hard-working family of Sweet Apple Acres shut their eyes.
Applejack woke up, looked around her room, rubbed her eyelids, and then lay her head back down on her chicken-feather stuffed pillow. She closed her eyes for a moment, and then sighed. Pressing her two front hooves into the mattress, she sat up, and then shuffled out of bed. Her hooves hit the oak floor and made a soft clack. As she started to walk around the room, she looked up at the photographs by her wooden dresser, of her and her family. Turning her head, she stared into her mirror. "sigh.. Another day in the orchard, it seems. Can't keep up with them darn trees, me and mah applebuckin'." She paused, then took her path out of the room, grabbing her hat off a hook by the door. As she made her way down the stairs of the old, cranky farmhouse, she didn't hear a sound coming from the kitchen. Well, tha's strange. Normally somepony'd be up makin' pie or som'pin by now. She led herself into the kitchen and was taken back by what she saw.
"I can't believe it!", Granny Smith said, in anger. "That dun went and did it! First 'e got the ol' run-in with the buffalo, now we got this?! How we gonna help the sorry bastard this time ah'roun'?"
"Now, calm down here, Grandma..", Big Mac broke his argument with Granny. "Applejack, ya might wanna take a big look at this here letter Braeburn sent us. Paid good money to a feller to get it to us."
"Wait a second, what in the hay is goin' on in here!?", little Applebloom stepped out from the hallway.
"Applebloom-", Applejack was intterupted.
"WILL EVERYPONY, JUST SHUT UP N' QUIT ASKIN' QUESTIONS? READ THE LETTER, I SAID." Big Mac's voice boomed throughout the house, commanding everyone to listen. After an awkward silence, Big Mac drew a large breath and sighed, his head hung low. "Now, everypony, look at this here letter Braeburn sent us. All the way from Appleoosa. Remember what I said about them perfect nights n' all? Causes other parts of 'questria t' get all nasty-like. Cousin wants us to haul on down there n' help 'im out.", Big Mac pointed to the piece of paper, which looked like it was hastily scribbled on. The two younger farmers of the family leaned in to read the sloppy, crumpled note.
Cousins,
I am sending you this letter to try and inform you about something terrible that just went on in Appleoosa. This morning, a great big storm hit, it blew away half of my family's house, and tore up most of the town. All that's left is the good old saloon, the supply store (mostly in tact) and the train station. I had to send some good folks to give you this letter, because the entire post office was blown over. My crops have all been lost, my lady and fillies left me in the night (I was getting suspicious about her having affairs, anyway) because all of our hard work is gone and I'm supposedly the one who couldn't protect the entire farm from falling down. I'm sorry to tell you this so suddenly, but I need you to come over as quickly as possible to help me rebuild the house. Thank you, cousins.
Applejack's mouth was hanging slightly open, in awe of what she had just read. This can't be happening? Our dear Braeburn? She looked up, sighed, and then slowly walked down the hallway. As she made her way up the stairs, the small clack of her hooves against the hard wood returned. She had to take all this in before packing her necessities. Granny Smith had fallen asleep by then, slumped down in her chair, her snoring barely audible. Applebloom trailed Applejack up the stairs, she wanted to talk to her sister. Her efforts were useless, and this was communicated by a large, oak door slammed into her face as she tried to follow her sorrowful sister into her room. Applebloom simply plopped down on the floor outside, and frowned. She felt bad for Braeburn, but couldn't understand why it was such a big deal. As Applebloom started to trail off to her room, Big Mac simply sighed, and clunked his heavy head onto the breakfast table.
Poor Braeburn, he thought, and then drifted off to sleep.
Out of Town
Each family member hastily gathered their toiletries, shoved them in saddlebags, and met in the kitchen. They didn't say anything to each other. With their heads hanging low, they shuffled out the door. They were each scared for their dear cousin in a unique way. Applebloom, however, was just happy they were getting out of Ponyville for once. The big red pony stepped onto the grass of the front yard, knowing this time, not because of a day of hard work ahead, but because of an Appleoosan disaster. He dreaded the moment he would have to confront his cousin about his lost gal and kids, but he knew Braeburn would have to be comforted by someone sooner or later, and the ladies in the family weren't so great at comforting, anyway. His heart sank as he imagined the broken town, burned and torn houses, crying families, devastated children. He didn't want to see any of this.
"Mac! What're y'all starin' off into space for? C'mon. Le's go help our cousin.", Applejack interrupted his thoughts. She was right. They had to get going sooner or later. It would be a big help to his cousin, and anyway, family was all the Apple family had, so it was important to help. Big Macintosh lead the apple-marked ponies onto the dirt path to ponyville, and they started their walk towards the train station. Passing through town, they stopped at the local farmer's market. The people in stalls were still setting up their produce, stacking cabbages, cherries, asparagus, and other assorted fruits and vegetables into the wooden bins build into the stands. As they approached the library, Sugarcube Corner, and Rarity's house, they decided they would at least tell the others about what was happening before departing to help their cousin in need. They didn't want to leave anyone hanging.
Applejack and Big Macintosh decided they would tell everyone what was going on. Granny Smith and Applebloom would just cause a ruckus, anyway. The two sturdy ponies trotted quickly up to the doorstep of Twilight's home, the Library. Applejack reluctantly gave the door a loud knock or so and waited for Spike to answer the door as he did, usually. The door creaked open, and Spike poked his head out the door.
"Applejack! Wasn't expecting you to be here at this hour. It's still only 5:30 AM!" Spike's rude statement was responded to with the big pony raising his left eyebrow. "Oh, right! I'll let you in to see Twilight, then you can.. Uh, talk to her..". The two ponies sauntered in, not taking time to look around. Spike wondered why the two were acting so strangely. Something must've gone bad, otherwise they'd be cheery and rowdy. He took a breath after walking into Twilight's room, not wanting to wake her, but he had to. "Ummm.. Twilight?"
"Hmmmm..?" Twilight raised her head from her pillow and pushed herself out of bed.
"Big Macintosh and Applejack want to see you."
"Tell them I'll be right down, then." She smiled at Spike, and then began to comb her mane with a purple brush. Staring at the wall, her mind was occupied with thoughts about what might be going on, because normally, the apple family wasn't up at the library, especially not this early. She blinked a few times, and then listened to the soft brush whooshing through the hair in her mane. She stared at the purple and pink stripes in the mirror, going whish, whish, whish with every stroke. Twilight realized she was wasting time and dropped the hairbrush down on her nightstand, then lifted her quill and ink off the desk with a gentle purple aura and walked out, and into the center room, where the other two ponies were.
"Ehh, Twilight, we gotta tell ya som'pin." Big Mac stated. Twilight put her quill and ink down on the floor next to her door to be refilled and fixed by Spike.
"Yes?" Twilight replied, lifting her head and pointing her, shiny, purple eyes Big Mac's direction.Applejack nudged Big Macintosh and pointed her head towards the clock next to a bookshelf.
"I'm just gonna leave this with you, Twilight. Ya can tell everypony about this later, we gotta get going. Dearly sorry, we meant to tell everyone personally, but.. We've run outta time already." Big Mac started towards the door and dropped Braeburn's letter on a table. "See ya, Twilight.", Big Mac shouted before the two walked out the door.
"So, all we gotta gotta do nowwww is go tell Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie!" Applebloom said, excitedly, as Applejack closed the big door behind them.
"We don't have time. Let's go." Applejack started quickly trotting away, leading the group towards the train station, leaving dusty hoof marks in the dirt behind them. As they walked up to the train station, the crunch noises of the dirt and rocks turned into a clunk as they stepped onto the platforms. The bulky, rusted train was sitting on the tracks, but was about to leave. The apple family hustled into the big train, paid the amount of two bits per pony, and were on their way to Appleoosa.
Applebloom curled up on the seat provided for her, and looked out the window, intently, as the train started squeaking and squealing away, rearing up to begin their ride to Braeburn. Family is family, and somepony had to go and help their cousin.
