Big Macintosh bucked another tree and watched as the apples fell down and into buckets below. Aside from the sounds of the gentle breeze and the occasional chirping of birds, it was quite a peaceful and almost quiet day for the stallion. No noises to bother him and certainly no silly antics to throw off his work. He was just about to pick up one of the buckets when he heard hoof steps approaching. He turned to see his sister Applejack approaching. The mare had a look of worry and exhaustion. She looked like she hadn't slept well in days. "Big Mac, any sign of Apple Bloom in this part of the orchard?"

"Nope" replied Big Mac.

"I don't understand this. She never runs away. Even Granny won't sleep and Winona can't pick up her scent." Explained Applejack. Her face filled with worry and exhaustion.

"I'm sure she's fine." Said Big Mac as he went to another tree.

He suddenly he felt himself being grabbed and he was face to face with Applejack again. This time her face filled with rage. "Don't you even care?! She's been missing for four days! Judging from that reaction I assume you know something right?"

Big Man's face was surprised as he shook his head no. Applejack calmed down and let him go. "I swear you better do more helping in searching and if I find out you had something to do with this I'll...I'll..."

She trailed off only to turn and run back to the farm house in tears. Big Mac sighed in relief. It had been four days since he did a dirty deed in the cellar of the farm. Getting rid of the three corpses was easy for him. He went back to work bucking trees. He didn't work for long though when a hooded stallion wandered up to him. Big Mac raised a brow as the visitor stopped in front of him. "Can I help you sir?"

The visitor cleared his throat. "Oh yes. You see my uh daughter was flying her kite but a huge gust of wind snapped the string and it flew into one of your trees. Any chance you can help get it out? I think I saw it crashed in that tree over there."

"No problem sir." Said Big Mac as he headed to the tree the visitor was pointing at.

But as he got closer he couldn't see a kite anywhere. "I see nothing up there sir." He said looking up through the branches.

"Oh its up there maybe shake a few leaves and fruit off. You might see it."

Big Mac then gave a mighty kick to the tree. Some apples did fall off as well as some leaves, and a big cinder block that landed on his head. Big Mac stumbled before crashing on the ground. The last thing he heard was laughing.

Cheerilee sat on a lawn chair admiring her work while sipping a glass of lemonade through a straw. It had been two months since the theatre fire incident. Her garden had never looked more beautiful. Not a single weed in sight. It was peaceful in her garden. However the same could not be said for the rest of Ponyville. Many ponies were heartbroken at the lives lost, especially for the children involved. No one was wiser to what really happened, but Cheerilee knows since she was the one that committed the arson and had gotten away with the murder of a classroom.

She was about to take another sip when she heard the sound of a pony approaching. There at the gate was a stallion wearing a hooded cloak. "Excuse me Ma'am are you by any chance the school teacher known as Cheerilee?"

Cheerilee removed her sunglasses and got up. "Why yes I am. How can I help you sir?"

"I want to enroll my daughter into your school but I don't know where to go." He explained.

Cheerilee smiled but deep down she hoped this potential new student is not another weed. "Oh we can discuss it inside. Would you like to come in?"

The stallion smiled as he walked up further. "Certainly."

The two entered the house. Cheerilee went over to pick up a tea kettle to make some tea. After a bit of brewing she came into the living room with two cups of tea. "So where is your daughter? I would like to meet her."

"Thought you would never ask. Here she is!" Said the stallion as he pulled out what looked like a syringe and quickly injected the mare with the fluid.

Cheerilee was in too much shock to react. Suddenly she felt sleepy. The last thing she heard before hitting the floor was the stallion speaking. "Mmm good tea. I wonder if I can share the recipe with the others."

Author's Note

If you haven't pieced it together this is "Cheerilee's garden" (sequel not canon) and "Sweet Apple Massacre".

Also how would you guys feel about interludes between stories?