Mirror: Book I - Mind

The door opened to the household of the Hooves family, a calm breeze passing through the windows and out the door where the scent of dinner filled the little unicorn’s nostrils, instantly inviting her inside. Dinky shut the door behind her as quietly as possible and commenced her routine check around as she snuck her way up to the kitchen doorway and peeked her head around. Her mother was nowhere to be seen and the sizzling in the pan beginning to settle down told her the wall-eyed pegasus had only just recently been there.

The filly looked around in wonder for a moment, her eyes landing on the framed photos sitting upon the dresser in the hallway. The picture of her tired mother and an infant Dinky, followed by a younger Amethyst Star joining the family halfway through. The final photo showcased all of them to the present day, and at that the unicorn looked down to find an envelope torn open sitting upon the table cloth. She took it in her hooves to investigate, and after slowly sliding the note within from the torn opening, those dreadful red lines and capitalized red text met her eyes. They were behind on bills…

She then captured something else in her eye, another note sitting on the dresser. It was an application form of some sort, addressed from Town Hall.

“-And I said ‘sheesh, it’s not like somepony needs a warrant to look at your stupid garden.’ And then she threatened to call the guards on us! Can you believe that?”

Amethyst and Derpy came bumbling down the steps, her sister being a little louder and far more exuberant than usual. It almost sounded like she was finally getting her head wrapped this garden raid investigation, in a bad way, but at the very least it was progress. Dinky had only been keeping small tabs on her sister’s escapades, the matter of studying for her test and the piano lessons that were taking up her schedule not helping all too much. As they made their way around the corner the little unicorn set the notes where she had found them and shrunk away behind the dresser as they passed by.

“I was only three years younger than you are now when I had my first job,” Derpy explained, “and that was the day I realized I was becoming a grown mare.”

“First of all, this isn’t my first job.” Amethyst justified. “Second-”

“It doesn’t matter how many jobs you’ve had, a job is still a job.”

“To get payed chum bits for hollers and harassment all day?”

“So you won’t get paid nothing for begging in the street all life.” Derpy’s wall-eye aligned correctly, a rare sight, if only for this moment. “Honey, listen, I know how you feel about this. It’s hard work, it’s stupid and makes you want to rip somepony’s head off from time to time but you’ve got to face the facts. The roof over our heads and the food on our table don’t come from thin air, it’s called making a living.”

The young, purple mare hung her head and sighed. “I know, mother…”

“So chin up, my little star. Those bad days aren’t going to last forever, not unless you don’t turn that frown upside down.” Derpy giggled. “I got that from Miss Pinkie Pie, she’s such a doll, bless her heart.” The mother looked upon her dejected daughter. “How’s Ronin?”

That got her to look up in surprise. “He’s…alright.” Amethyst fidgeted.

“And not an insult to tell? You two must be making progress, you’ll have to tell me all about it.” Derpy began for the kitchen. “And you too, little missy! I wanna hear all about your day.”

Dinky was caught like a deer in headlights, standing frozen in the stairwell. She knew her mother had eyes on the back of her head, she just knew it.

Over at the Apples residence, the farm house dining area was filled with every member of the estate, the four ponies equally set out on each side of the rectangular table. Though every mouth that night was being fed, not a single one spoke a word. The clang of silverware and the chewing of supper filled the silence of the hushed hall, and surprisingly enough, Big Macintosh of the bunch was the first one to break the ice.

“So, the doctor came over today.” the big, red stallion spoke.

Applejack’s ear flickered in his direction. “Eeyup.” She answered.

“Why?” Granny wondered. “Somethin’ wrong with ol’ DaisyJo?”

“Nnnope.” Muttered Applejack.

“Then what’s the deal, youngin’?”

“He was just wantin’ to see the pigs.” She explained. “Said somethin’ about collectin’ cells or whatever for an experiment, way over my head. I told him to stop talking and just do what he’s gotta do.”

“Collectin’ sales? Why, ya’ sold him a pig?”

“No, Granny. He just took a bit of their blood for samplin’.”

“He hurtin’ them pigs?”

“I stayed and made sure he wasn’t hurtin’ nothin’.”

“Speak for yourself…” Apple Bloom grumbled at the floor.

“What’s that now?” Applejack glared over.

“Talk about protectin’ pigs.” The little sister scoffed. “You won’t even give him a chance!”

“Apple Bloom, we’re not having this argument. Not at the dinner table.”

“And what might that be?” Granny perked up.

“Never mind it, Granny-”

“Darn tootin’ I’ll mind!” The elder persisted. “Listen here, anything that comes crawlin’ up on this here farm is official Apple family business.”

Over at the Hooves residence, the pegasus mother and her two unicorns sat themselves in the dining area to fill their stomachs, yet they held their tongues. Dinky was almost too nervous to eat to begin with, and the odd behavior being displayed stood no chance getting past her mother’s perceptiveness. And by innate perceptiveness, she simply meant motherly instincts. The pegasus was capable of training one eye on the room and the other focused solely upon her daughter, and thus the first question was asked. The little unicorn could already feel herself in a bind, and she quickly succumbed if only to avoid the turmoil and headaches that it might cause later. She thought about the lake, about the little boat that had been bought for her and the bullies who ruined it…and then that small light at the end of that soundless black and blue tunnel…the boy’s hand reaching for her deep down in the bubbling waters.

“Mom.” Dinky said, she sat up straight. “Something did happen today.”

“Why, we oughta’ invite the feller over for dinner, after what ya’ done to him.”

“Are you nuts?” Applejack spat her salad.

“No, I’m old.”

The farm pony grumbled wearily. “Granny, listen, I know that whatever you say goes around here, but I don’t think that’s the brightest of your plans.”

“And why’s that? There somethin’ wrong with him?”

“He’s not-” Applejack grumbled again. “That thing is not like other ponies.”

“He.” Dinky told her family. “Not it.”

Amethyst gasped, leaning in closer. “You’re not talking about the monster, are you?”

“He’s not a monster.” Dinky justified.

“Dinky, do you remember what we talked about with strangers?” Her mother concerned.

“Yeah, but-!” The filly winced. “He’s nothing like that, mom!”

“Well, what’s he like, then? A crazy, goat blood sucker?” Granny joked.

“Could be.” Miss setson was serious.

“Knockin’ on yer door with an axe behind his back?”

“I wouldn’t doubt it.”

“Applejack, quit lying!” The little sister shouted.

“Me? A liar?” The farm pony looked bewildered, and soon angered. “Why, you lil’-”

“Well, if ya’ ain’t gonna tell me anythin’ you know then ya’ just ain’t tellin’ me the truth, Jack.” Granny put up her snout.

“Oh for cryin’ out loud.” Applejack swung over. “Mac, back me up here!”

The stallion in question chewed on his hay hanging from his jaw, munching and mawing slowly. He chewed and chewed until he slurped and swallowed loudly. Nodding once, he rested one hoof to the table, the other to the back of his seat, gave the table a good rap or two before finally deciding to provide. “Kids seem to like the guy.” He noted, nodding again.

“Those kids ran for the hills as soon as they saw him.” Dinky confirmed.

“I don’t want you going anywhere near that lake without me or your sister ever again, do you understand?” Derpy rested a hoof to her daughter’s shoulder, looking desperately into her eyes. “Somepony’s gonna have a word with those kids’ parents.” She began to shake her head. “Those little, no good, rotten sacs of sh-”

“Who did this to you? What were their names?” Amethyst asked with fervent seethe.

“Amy, I don’t want you getting involved.” Her mother ordered.

“I’ll pick you up from school tomorrow, you just show me who did it.”

“Amy!” The mother barked. “If you come anywhere near that school house I will not hesitate to spank you in front of a dozen fillies and colts and drag you by the tail all the way home.”

“That’s just what you’re gonna do to their parents anyways.” Amethyst argued.

“I intend to bring notice to Miss Cheerilee, first.” Derpy’s voice was firm. “We’re going to sit down and have a civilized conversation on who is and who isn’t going to get the hairs ripped out of their heads.”

“Mom, did you not hear what your daughter just said?” Amethyst swung her hoof against the table. “They tried to drown her!”

“That’s not the point…” Dinky mumbled.

“We should take this to court!” Amethyst tried. “We should sue the parents and force the kids into hard labor until their beards touch the floor!”

“He saved me!” Dinky broke away from her mother’s hoof, and the two stared at her.

“Dink…” They both murmured.

“None of that is going to work.” The little unicorn recomposed herself. “I know what it’s like for him, the town hates his guts. They all call him a monster just because he looks different, and they’ll do nothing but accuse him of bad things and look past his good deeds because of it.” Dinky closed her eyes and took another breathe. “What I mean to say is, if somepony or someone gets treated like a monster for saving somepony else’s life, then I don’t care about justice.”

“Well, I do!” Applejack argued. “Somepony’s gotta do somethin’ about that thing, and if it ain’t gonna be any of them then by golly it’s gonna be me.”

“Ya’ oughta’ listen more to what yer sister’s gotta say about the feller. She’s got first hoof experience of him, after all.”

“She doesn’t know what she’s talkin’ about, she’s just a lil’ girl.”

“Can’t you tell when a mare’s grown?” Apple Bloom spat. “Ah’ ain’t the filly I was five years ago.”

“That doesn’t make the filly you are now the one you need to be.” Applejack retorted.

Her little sister seemed to recoil in disgust, and she protested. “What in the sam hill gives ya’ the idea that ya’ gotta be so controllin’ over me for? This is my life! This ain’t how ma or pa would’a tried to raise us!”

“Now you listen here.” Applejack ground her teeth and slit her eyes, ire slithering from her tongue in a low, tensioned tone. “Don’t you wrangle our parents into this.”

“I bet you think yer all high n’ mighty just ‘cause you wear dad’s hat all the time.” Apple Bloom hissed back.

Applejack snorted like a heavy horse and slammed both her hooves down onto the dinner table. Every pony’s dinner platter went momentarily airborne, not even landing back down in time as the infuriated farm mare jabbed a shaking, seething hoof at her sister.

“That does it! Go to your room an’ you can come down n’ finish supper when ah’ say so!”

“What-?!”

“ROOM. NOW.”

The room fell quiet. Apple Bloom stared at her elder sister in a long moment of disbelief before swirling her eyes and twisting around in her chair with fury. Her face contorted into several forms of frustration until she finally stomped her little hooves up the wooden stairs and swung open her bedroom door. “Ah’ hope the ‘monster’ comes n’ eats you for supper!” Was the last thing heard before a deafening slam echoed through the Apples household. Everypony’s ears were flattened and hesitant all expect for Applejack’s, to which they flinched at the reverberation of the slam.

“Consarn it.” Applejack swung back down into her chair, head hung low and hooves to the table. “What am I gonna do with her?”

The silence prompted the mare to look up from her dinner after a long moment to see that her remaining two family members were staring upon her with concerned gazes. Whether it be over what she had done to her little sister or the level of the behavior she had just displayed, Applejack wasn’t too sure, but either way the silence was scraping away at her nerves. She wanted just one of them to say something already, to break the silence so they could properly return to their meals. Applejack realized she would have to be the one to do it.

“Maybe I was a little too harsh on her?” She said quietly.

“She’ll come down if’n she hungry.” Big Mac muttered.

Applejack looked beyond the table to her elder, watching the old mare calmly chew her dinner away. “Why didn’t y’all stop me?” She asked them.

Granny paused, swallowed her mouthful, and silently looked her granddaughter in the eyes. “To me,” she began, “it was more of a matter of stoppin’ myself from stoppin’ you.”

For the remainder of their meal not a single word was spoken between the three. Applejack felt as though for the rest of supper her thoughts were eating away at her mind more than her mouth was prying off of her plate. The quiet, cold nightly air from outside seemed to sweep its way in as Granny and Mac took their leave and turned in for the night. Both of them stopped at the little sister’s door to spare some words before heading to bed, and the lonely farm mare downstairs was left with two unfinished dinner plates sitting beneath a gloomy, yellow light bulb. Thoughts swam in her mind, visions swirled, sounds of reminiscence and faces remembered. Her friends, her colleagues, the sofa clerk, her pet dog Winona, Granny, Big Mac, Apple Bloom, and finally her parents.

There was a silence in the dim of the dining room, the grandfather clock down the hall swaying to and fro as its ticking rhythm echoed about the darkness and hit Applejack’s ears at the same interval each time. The clock struck at nine, a tiny chord playing throughout the halls and summoning a worried sickness over the mare sitting alone. As soon as the chime played its part, the familiar sound of little hooves making their way down the stairs caught her ear. The farm mare turned and looked on at the bottom of the staircase with weary eyes, her younger sister coiling one hoof around the other in a nervous posture.

“I was comin’ down for a glass o’ water.” Apple Bloom mumbled. “And I…guess I could finish my supper too?”

“Of course, sugar cube.” Applejack invited her over.

The filly hopped up into her chair and found her dinner just the way she had left it, barely eaten at all given how much arguing had went down between the two during supper time. Apple Bloom gave a cautious look over to her sister who was now trying to concentrate on her own plate.

“I thought ya’ woulda’ fed it to Winona by now.”

“She’s had her fill.” Applejack replied. “Besides, it wouldn’t taste any good without you.”

Apple Bloom looked down to notice that her sister had put her meal on pause as well. By now the carrots and parley mixed into the stew would have been cold as rocks, and the broth well below temperature. The two siblings joked that it wasn’t as bad as their distant cousin’s infamous stone and stew supper. There was silence once again, and it allowed Apple Bloom to think over her next course of action. The elder sister knew the thoughts were swirling in the little one’s head, and she soon came to realize there was little to nothing she could do to sway her little sister’s ways of thinking. It just wasn’t right, to manipulate her kin even if she felt in her heart it was the right thing to do, because that nagging thought in the back of her head and the strong tug of her heart told her that it simply wasn’t the right thing to do.

“Applejack-” Apple Bloom began.

“I know what you’re gonna say.” Applejack spoke faster than she had thought, but nonetheless continued. “If’n I’m being reasonable about this, then I admit I was the one at fault here. I shouldn’t’ve yelled at you like that, I shouldn’t’ve gotten angry with you. For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.”

“I was going to ask you…” Apple Bloom began again. “Why do you have to hate somepony just because you don’t understand them?”

“You don’t have to hate them, sugar cube.”

“I was talking about you.”

“Oh, well…” Applejack thought for a moment. “I’m a cautious mare, y’see? And besides, hate is a strong term.”

The little sister stared blankly at her elder. Applejack sighed arduously and looked down with a shake of her head. She turned and stared her sister in the eye, resting a hoof to her shoulder and laying out her words as meaningfully and meticulously as she could.

“Apple Bloom,” she began. “I’ve watched you grow up your entire life, from the day you were born to the very moment you and I are sittin’ here. It’s always been in my nature to protect you and make sure you grow up to be a strong, young mare, no matter what the cost. One of these days I’m not gonna be around to do that anymore, and I wanna leave this earth knowing my little sister’ll be stronger and better than I could’ve ever been. You understand what I’m sayin’, sugar cube? It’s a big world out there, a lotta’ ponies’ and people that’ll want to help you, but a lot of them that’ll want to hurt you and steal from you, too. Y’get what I’m sayin’? You can’t just lend a friendly hoof to every living creature that walks this earth and expect them all to treat ya’ the same. Y’gotta go with your instincts, sometimes, know when something feels off or somepony just don’t look quite right-”

“I understand, big sis.” Apple Bloom cut her off, yet acknowledged the bigger pony and put her hoof to her sister’s. “If ma and pa were still here they’d prolly be lecturing me just the way you’re doin’ right now.”

Applejack looked at her sister with confusion, cocking an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry, that was a compliment.” Apple Bloom smiled. “After all, you do take after dad.”

Applejack peeked up at the setson still resting to her head and blushed slightly. She chuckled and held her little sister close. “Well shucks, sugar cube, if it does ya’ any better then I’d say so do you.”

Apple Bloom returned her sister’s embrace. “I’m sorry I insulted you earlier.”

“An’ I’m sorry I shouted.” Applejack caressed her sister’s mane. “I love ya’, my little bloom.”

“Love you too, sis.”

Four plates, four meals, four members and a round table surrounding the castle dining hall with the same-old, undisturbed hollowed out ambiance humming through the cavernous corridors of the crystal palace. Spike sat at his end, heart embroidered apron and chef’s hat atop his spiny head as he stared confusingly at the elephant in the room. Twilight levitated a fork midair, balancing a portion of her food on the end of the prongs which slowly slid off, and Starlight was busy shoving a hoof over her snout and trying her damnedest to stifle her laughter, red in the face and snickering all the while.

David scooped up another helping of his salad, watched a sum of mushy apple bits fall down into his food, and the boy sighed as he looked up and around his audience. He was covered head to toe in yellow and red slimy slivers, the remnants of apples hurled towards him at a million miles a minute. The boy took his index and middle finger, scooped a glop off of his jaw and then held it out to the others.

“Applesauce?” He offered.