Half In the Bag

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.