We Apples, Three

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Epilogue

Chapter 1

We Apples, Three

The autumn sun was halfway toward the horizon when the sound of hooves on wood finally ceased. Pausing for an instant after her final kick, Applejack was rewarded with the familiar sight of dozens of apples raining down neatly into her carefully placed baskets. Peering upward, she satisfied herself that there were no stragglers high in the boughs and gave a contented nod before setting to gathering up the few wayward apples that had made it all the way to the ground.

A quiet rumble heralded the return of Big Macintosh with the cart, ready to help load the final half-dozen baskets and haul them back to the barn. Applejack looked up and gave a warm smile as he pulled up next to her. She pulled her hat a little lower on her head to shield her eyes from the ever-descending sun, and without ceremony began hoisting the baskets onto the flatbed. Macintosh, unhitching himself, did the same. It was the work of a few minutes, carried out quietly and with the efficiency of a routine long since perfected. Once they were all loaded, Applejack and Big Macintosh shared a look at the final tree to give up its bounty, gave each other a satisfied nod, and that was that.

Applebuck season at Sweet Apple Acres was over for another year.

Re-hitching himself into the cart, Big Macintosh began pulling the final load of cargo back in the direction of the farmhouse. Applejack fell in alongside, but found her gait a little slower than usual. Her legs felt heavy and it was a little too much effort to hold her head up. Both she and Mac had done their fair share of bucking of course, but for whatever reason the last couple of days seemed to have really taken the wind out of her. Noticing his sister falling behind, Macintosh slowed his pace and glanced back over his shoulder.

"Y'can ride on if ya want," he said, nodding towards the cart.

"Nah, I'm alright."

"Ya look tired."

"I said I'm fine. I could buck another hundred trees if needs be!"

Shaking his head, but smiling all the same, Big Macintosh settled for slowing his pace to match his sister. She still had a stubborn streak, he mused, even if it wasn't quite as wide as it used to be.

They ambled homeward in comfortable silence through the rows of now-fruitless apple trees in the south field. As they walked the shadows slowly lengthened and by the time they reached the farmhouse the sun was just touching the horizon beneath a perfectly cloudless sky. A cool breeze stirred occasionally, promising that the warm evening would be followed by a chilly night.

The apples were quickly stored in the cellar and the cart and buckets put away, leaving Applejack and Big Macintosh together outside with one final task to tend to before the season was closed off for good.

A little way away from the homestead stood the only apple tree still bearing its apples. Known as the Grandfather Tree, it had been the first apple tree that Granny Smith's family had planted when they'd settled the land. In the early years it had grown by far the fastest and borne the most apples. It had effectively sustained the growing family during those initial, lean harvests and now it was the oldest, largest and ugliest apple tree on the farm. Almost as tall as the barn, its trunk was three feet thick, gnarled and twisted. It sprouted long thick branches, irregular and unruly and, to the extent that a tree could sustain a character, it presented an air of 'grumpiness.'

One who had done his duty, but whose pesky kids wouldn't let him retire in peace. 'Grandfather'.

It had become tradition to harvest the apples from the Grandfather Tree last of all every season. The seeds of Grandfather Tree's apples would be collected and when the time eventually came, would be used to expand the orchard with fresh saplings. Every tree on the farm could trace its lineage back to Grandfather, and through it to the founding of Ponyville itself.

And ever since Applejack had been old enough to buck, it had become the source of an annual competition between her and her older brother.

The rules were simple. Each contestant took turns to buck the tree, and victory was awarded to the pony whose kick ultimately caused the final apple or apples to fall from Grandfather's clutches. The catch was that unlike his well-behaved children out in the fields, the Grandfather Tree was famously stubborn and did not give up his apples at all easily. His thick, twisted and heavily knotted trunk made making a good buck difficult, and it required considerable effort and skill to get the tree to release any of his bounty.

As for the stake in the competition, that changed every season.

"So, whaddya reckon this year Big Mac? Maybe days doing chores?" Applejack said as they approached the hallowed ground.

"Apple pies?" Big Macintosh suggested hopefully, earning a derisive snort from his sibling. That had been the prize last year, and even then AJ had described it as 'uninspiring'.

"Come on Big Mac, think bigger," she said, a cocky gleam in her eye. "I got a good feelin' about my chances this year." She turned to stare up at the old tree. "How 'bout cartloads of firewood?"

Big Mac mulled that over. Heading outside on a freezing winter's night to fetch a fresh cart of logs for the hearth was a necessary, but never pleasant task. It'd be nice not to have to do it for a while once the nights started closing in. He glanced back over at Applejack...and imagined her trudging through belly-high snow in the pitch dark, struggling to haul the heavy cart laden with logs from the wood store. Then he thought of himself inside, warm and dry, and sighed inwardly. This was a problem every year – agreeing to a prize that he could live with if he won. Apple pies had been a brilliant suggestion! He was about to shake his head in disagreement, but Applejack met his gaze. She was wearing that determined smile of hers that brooked no argument. Stubborn. Big Mac simply sighed and nodded. Arguing would take all day and get him nowhere. He couldn't come up with a better suggestion, and there were worse alternatives, after all.

"Carts of wood." Brother and sister both spat on a forehoof, and shook on it. Applejack grinned.

As the reigning champion from the previous year, Big Macintosh regarded the tree first. He examined it carefully, sizing it up. The Grandfather Tree never gave up all his apples on the first kick, even for a pony as strong as him, so it became a question of strategy. Kicking too hard might cause too many apples to fall at once and the advantage would likely fall to his opponent. Not kicking hard enough meant it might be that no apples fell at all, and his adversary would get an extra turn next round. On the few occasions that had happened in previous years, it had proven decisive.

Satisfied he'd found a good place to begin, Mac readied himself in front of the trunk and kicked. A satisfying thud followed as hooves struck bark, a dozen apples raining down around him. Gazing up at the tree he gave a small smile. Still far too many apples up there to buck in one go. He might have misgivings about the stake this year, but he would never try to lose on purpose. He respected his sister too much for that.

Applejack, never one for the subtle approach, simply walked up to the tree, found her favourite spot on the trunk – a small flat indentation the size of a dinner plate – planted her hooves, and let fly.

Turns were exchanged, apples were felled and little by little the Grandfather Tree was robbed of his fruit. The rounds continued until Big Macintosh mistakenly bucked too forcefully, leaving only six or seven apples that he could see dangling among the loftier branches – easily few enough for his sister to win. He felt relieved actually, but kept his expression neutral.

Applejack sauntered confidently up to the trunk and in one swift motion turned and kicked out with as much force as she could muster. Even so, Big Macintosh couldn't help but feel her buck wasn't as strong as it should have been, and he noticed now that she looked more tired than she had earlier. Nevertheless even a fatigued Applejack was more than a match for the remaining apples which swiftly dropped to earth. Both ponies scanned the tree, searching for any rebellious fruit.

"Whaddya say Big Mac," Applejack said, her breathing a little heavier than normal. "I win?"

Reluctantly, Big Macintosh slowly shook his head. "Nope." Raising a forehoof he indicated two offending stragglers high in the tree, dangling defiantly from the same branch. The last two apples.

"Aw, ponyfeathers!"

Approaching the trunk, Big Macintosh prepared to put an end to proceedings and claim victory, when he was interrupted by a desperate wail from the direction of the farmhouse. It quickly grew louder, closer, until he could make out words.

"Wait! Applejack! You promised!"

Big Macintosh turned in time to see his youngest sister racing towards them like a mare possessed, and shouting as loud as her lungs would allow. Confused, he looked back to Applejack who was suddenly wearing an expression of shock and guilt.

A distraught Apple Bloom skidded to a stop before the two older ponies. Her countenance was a forlorn presentation of disappointment and her mouth hung open as though she wanted to say something, but the words inside were nowhere to be found.

For a moment, Applejack just stood there, stunned. Then, noticing Big Macintosh's confusion, she opened her mouth and forced herself to speak.

"I...made a promise to Apple Bloom that she could watch us buck Grandfather this year. I was gonna go get her after we were done out in the field," she said sourly. She turned back to her sister, but found she couldn't meet her gaze. "I'm so sorry AB. I just don't know how, but I guess I...I forgot." She almost choked on the final word. Applejack could only look at the ground, sheepishly rubbing one foreleg with the other. "I didn't mean to break my promise, sis." It was almost a plea.

For long moments, Big Macintosh could only look at both of his sisters standing there, avoiding each other's eyes.

Big Macintosh knew it to be a point of personal pride to his eldest sister that, when Applejack made you a promise, you could already consider it fulfilled. Now she thought she just had broken one to her own family. It wouldn't matter that it had been an honest mistake – likely due to her increasingly apparent exhaustion – she would blame herself anyway. It would take hours, if not days for Applejack to forgive herself, and until then she was going to be miserable.

He turned to Apple Bloom. The young filly originally crestfallen at not getting to be a part of something she'd been looking forward to for a week, but doubly upset now that she also realised she'd made her big sister feel bad. She hadn't meant to. She never would. He could see the beginnings of tears forming in her eyes as she too stared at the ground, eyes fixed on the same spot that seemed to hold Applejack's attention.

As for Big Macintosh himself...he thought he was simple enough. He had only ever had one job, and that was to take care of his family.

Taking a breath and drawing himself up, Big Macintosh walked over to his eldest sister, put a hoof gently on her withers and gave her a warm smile.

"Don't reckon you broke anythin', sis."

Quickly turning to his younger sister to forestall the question or, more likely, indignation he already knew threatened to spew forth from Applejack's mouth, he carried on, "Grandfather ain't all bucked out yet." He indicated the final two apples high in the branches.

Apple Bloom seemed less than placated.

"Two apples?" she said, "But I wanted to see..." she glanced at Applejack again and trailed off, the remaining words dying in her throat. She tried to look anywhere else, but all she could see were the scores of apples she'd already missed fall. It didn't help.

Unfazed, Macintosh continued, "Havin' a hard time gettin' those two, ain't we AJ? Reckon I'm a mite tired." He turned his lazy smile on Apple Bloom. "Y'wanna take my turn for me?"

Apple Bloom's eyes lit up. "You mean it? Really?"

"Eeyup."

"If I buck them two apples, does that mean I win the Prize?" She sounded more and more excited as she spoke, her despondent mood brightening like sunlight through breaking clouds. Big Macintosh simply nodded, still smiling.

"Eeyup."

Applejack, for her part, looked completely aghast. She was clearly trying to find some words somewhere but evidently there was currently some fault between her brain and her mouth.

Apple Bloom stared wistfully at the two apples high above her. "I could win the Grandfather Prize..." before coming back down to earth, "Uh, which is what this year exactly?"

She'd addressed her question to Applejack, but Big Macintosh broke in before she could ruin the moment with the truth. "A big apple pie. Just for you. No sharing." He winked at her and she giggled.

Fixing her face with a determined grin, Apple Bloom approached the Grandfather Tree in predatory fashion. She found a good spot on the trunk between two large knots and at just the right height for her. She turned, squared herself, planted her hooves, rocked forward, and bucked with all her might.

Only to find that she had slightly overestimated how far her hind legs would reach.

"Whoa!" she cried as her flailing limbs initially found nothing but air. Now off balance, she didn't so much kick the tree as she fell into it, rump first.

"Ow," she complained, but she was already looking up at the two delinquent apples with somewhat unwarranted optimism.

As though in sympathy, one of the two apples did have the good grace to release its grip on the tree and fall to the ground. Whether this was, strictly speaking, the result of Apple Bloom's enthusiastic misfire or rather a stiff breeze that happened to jostle the branches at about the same time, could be debated at length. It wouldn't though, because every pony around the tree immediately accepted that the cause was the young filly who was just now getting to her hooves again.

She seemed rather pleased.

"I did it! I bucked an apple off Grandfather!"

Considering the thickness of the trunk, the height of the apples, and the fact that the tree had a reputation for being difficult, Apple Bloom, small as she was, could rightly consider herself proud. Congratulations and hugs were given by her two older siblings, and long seconds were waited hoping that the final apple would have the good manners to follow its brother earthwards.

It wasn't to be. After a minute Big Macintosh cleared his throat and gave Applejack a quick look. Reluctantly she stepped up to the tree and gave it a swift kick. The offending fruit plummeted to the ground, landing with a thud to complete the formality.

Applejack had won. She looked disappointed.

Until she saw Apple Bloom. The filly had retrieved her apple from the ground and, holding it in her forehooves, was talking excitedly.

"I got you, Grandfather Apple. Just wait 'till I show you to Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo!"

She stared at it, wide-eyed, as though it was the most valuable thing in the world. A little part of history from the first days of Ponyville. And it was hers!

A distant peal rang from the farmhouse – Granny Smith ringing the dinner bell, and with it came the promise of a hearty meal in good company – for all those who got there before it went cold.

"Oh boy, supper! Come on y'all!" Apple Bloom said as she raced toward home, her precious trophy in tow.

The two older ponies smiled, watching their younger sister race away. Only now did they become aware that the evening around them had given way to full dusk. The fading light had crept up unnoticed, as it tended to.

"Thanks, big brother."

"What for?" Big Macintosh asked innocently.

"You know what for, ya big Galoot!" Applejack paused. "Look, about this," she looked sheepish again as she nudged the final fallen apple with a hoof. "We'll just say it don't count–"

But Big Macintosh was already waving his foreleg to cut her off.

"Nope. Ya won fair and square, sis. A bet's a bet."

"But you would've won if ya hadn't given up your turn!"

"My choice." Big Macintosh said simply.

"But...it feels like I won because I broke my promise...like I cheated it from you or somethin'. Don't feel right. You should'a won," she finished weakly.

"I win every year, sis," came Big Macintosh's reply with a small grin. "Reckon it's about time you beat me."

As far as he was concerned, that ended the discussion on the matter. Applejack had cleared the tree with her fifth kick, so under the terms of the contest, he would have to haul that cart to the wood shed an extra five times come winter. That was all there was to it and if Applejack wanted to argue, he could be just as stubborn as her.

"Guess we'd better get to gatherin' up Grandfather's young-uns," began Applejack, who then broke out into a wide, full yawn. She blinked to clear the cobwebs but couldn't stop her eyes from staying closed a fraction too long. She dipped her head to retrieve the first apples from the ground when a hoof on her shoulder stopped her.

Big Macintosh just smiled. "I'll take care of it. Go inside and rest, sis. Ya look tired."

Dinner was eaten, the plates washed and put away, and the late evening was filled with the sounds of four ponies happily chatting in front of a warm and crackling hearth. Eventually, Apple Bloom was persuaded that it was time for bed and she trotted upstairs taking her hard-won apple with her. Granny Smith followed soon after, leaving Applejack and Big Macintosh alone together in front of the cozy fire.

Applejack lay flat, muzzle resting on her forelegs, eyes closed. She would have drifted off into sleep but her brain refused to disengage. She kept replaying the events of earlier over in her head and the gnawing sense of guilt still bothered her. It didn't matter how she sliced it – she'd, unforgivably, broken a promise to her own sister, Big Macintosh had sacrificed victory to bail her out, and he'd ended up indebted to her to the tune of five cartloads of firewood as a result. It was wrong, and she had to make amends.

"Hey, Big Mac?"

"Mmhm?"

"Reckon I owe ya for today."

Big Mac just shook his head. "Weren't about to watch both my sisters get themselves all upset over an honest mistake. Y'don't owe me nothin' fer that."

"At least let me let y'all off the bet," she tried again.

"Ya didn't cheat. You won. We shook on it, and I gotta keep my promises too," he said. Then in a low voice, added, "Besides, wasn't keen on just sittin' back watching while ya fetched all that firewood."

Applejack almost let out a frustrated cry. Big Macintosh was being noble, and it was exasperating! It made her want to hug him and kick him in equal measure. She and Big Mac didn't see the situation the same way, she knew, but why didn’t he understand that she wouldn't feel right in herself if she couldn't find some way to pay him back – to show him how much she appreciated what he'd done? She didn't really have anything to give him: almost everything they had they shared anyway, as a family, but he wouldn't even accept a gift in this mood. She furrowed her brow, thinking.

Perhaps if she couldn't give him something, she could help him with something. Or do something for him. Or with him. She brightened at that. When was the last time they'd done something together that wasn't work? That was just for fun?

She realised she couldn't remember.

A fresh wave of guilt descended on Applejack like a thick, smothering blanket. Big Macintosh was one of the most important ponies in her life and she couldn't even remember when she'd last spent any real time with him. How had that happened? Growing up, they'd done everything together. Folks had used to call them 'Mac n' Jack' for short, because you'd never see one without the other. They'd always managed to get themselves into – and out of! – all kinds of good natured mischief.

What had changed?

She didn't have an answer. But, she quickly resolved, the Why and the How didn't matter half as much as setting it right. And then inspiration struck her.

Opening her eyes and looking toward her brother, Applejack offered a warm smile.

"Let's all go camping."

Big Macintosh put his confused face on. From his point of view, the conversation had jumped tracks slightly.

"All three of us," Applejack carried on. "Apple Bloom and I had a great time up at Windsome Falls, and I can't recall the last time we all did somethin' together..." She paused at that. Saying it out loud brought with it a fresh pang of regret, but she found her smile again quickly. "Reckon that means it's been too long."

Big Mactintosh thought. It had indeed been a long time since they'd done something together. Unlike his sister though, he could remember exactly when it was. He suspected that Applejack would have been quite surprised, and maybe upset, if she knew just how long it had been. He kept it to himself.

"You want me to go camping with ya'll?"

"Why so surprised? We used to go camping together a lot, you an' me."

"Just don't reckon ya need me to help pitch your tent any more, lil' sis."

"Ya really are a big Galoot. That ain't why I want ya to come and you know it. Do I really need an excuse to want to spend time with my big brother?"

Big Macintosh grinned, "Eeyup!" Then paused. "And the farm?"

"Applebuck season's over. Ain't no chores that can't wait for a week, and Granny Smith can take care of herself. The farm won’t hurt."

There was a lengthy silence. Big Macintosh just sat still, and Applejack swore she could hear the gears turning in his head as he thought. He was now collating every possible implication of leaving the farm unattended and scanning for problems. Sometimes that stallion thought too much.

"Come on Big Mac. You'll have fun. We all will. I promise."

Big Macintosh eyed his sister as, inexplicably, she raised a forehoof, made a small cross in the air, and then covered one eye. He called a halt to his mental risk assessment. It was a fairly simple equation after all.

If it took his company on a camping trip to make Applejack happy, then so be it.

"Okay," he smiled back, "where're we going?"

Chapter 2

The next morning, Apple Bloom had said yes before Applejack had even finished asking the question. Evidently the prospect of going adventuring with her big sister and her big brother was the Best Thing Ever.

They'd decided on heading out to Whitetail Lake in Whitetail Woods. It had been a favourite camping spot for Applejack and Big Macintosh when they were younger, but neither had been there in years and Apple Bloom hadn't been at all.

Applejack and Apple Bloom had packed up their saddlebags with their usual supplies, and Big Macintosh had retrieved his old tent from the attic. It had taken a while to clean all the dust off but when he'd examined it he'd found it was still serviceable. He'd had to go in search of everything else though – he had repurposed almost all of his old leisure gear long ago for use on the farm; everything from canteens to compass. Eventually though, he tracked most of it down and martialled it into an adequate kit for a hike in the woods and a night or two under the stars.

Applejack looked a lot brighter this morning too. For her, a good night's rest had done wonders to shake off the spectre of a tough harvest. She once again walked with a spring in her step, and Big Macintosh was happy to see that whatever issues she had been harbouring about the previous day's events she seemed to have laid to rest. She was back to her usual easy-going self.

Having left the homestead in the mid-morning, the three ponies walked in high spirits toward their destination deep within Whitetail. The woods were peaceful and inviting, the trees kindly allowing warm sunlight to fall through their canopy onto the backs of the three members of the Apple family. The leaves were just now beginning to turn, and the forest was alive with the sound of birds and small animals chirruping happily.

Apple Bloom had been in interrogation mode ever since leaving the house. She couldn't wait to get to the campsite, but apparently wanted to know everything there was to know about it, and the times her brother and sister had spent there, by the time she did. Big Macintosh fielded all the questions that could be answered with either a "Eeyup" or "Nope" response, while Applejack handled the rest.

The young filly was in the throes of edification when her insatiable questioning caused her to take her mind off where she was walking. Her forehoof struck an exposed stump, and before she could recover she tripped and cried out as she fell, tumbling head over hooves down a steep embankment that dropped away to one side of the trail.

While the bank was steep, it was not all that high. Apple Bloom cartwheeled down the slope before landing on her back in a huge patch of thick brambles that hugged the bottom of the hill, which promptly proceeded to entangle her.

Dizzy, but coming to her senses, she could only muster a vague "Ow," in response.

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack called urgently, "Are you okay?!"

"Yeah...think so. Ouch!" The brambles' sharp thorns pricked and scratched her coat. As the initial shock passed, the pain only increased.

"Hold on sis, I'm comin'. Just don't move, y'hear?"

"Okay," said Apple Bloom, who then proceeded to ignore both her sister's advice and her own common sense by trying to squirm free of the thicket that had ensnared her. It was ill advised, and as she tried to extricate herself, a particularly sharp thorn cut deep into her right hindleg, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Consarn it sis, I said don't move!" Applejack had shed her saddlebags and was descending the steep slope as carefully and quickly as she dared. She had to rescue her sister, but she couldn't afford to fall head first into the thicket herself.

Apple Bloom began to cry. The horrid thorns were everywhere! They stabbed and poked, cut and scratched. She couldn't get herself out. She couldn't stay still because it hurt too much, and she couldn't move without it hurting more. It was unfair!

"Please, sis..." she managed between sobs. She suddenly felt very scared.

Hearing her sister crying in pain cut through Applejack like a knife. She could see the signs of panic rising in the young filly; if she lost control and started thrashing and bucking among those thorns...it didn't bear thinking about. Recklessly, Applejack quickened her pace, almost tripping on a root, but eventually arriving safely at the base of the hill.

"S'okay sugarcube, I'm here." The sound of Applejack's voice so close seemed to calm her younger sister, and her squirming lessened.

Applejack carefully picked her way past the outer edge of the brambles, wincing as she earned a few scratches on her own forelegs, until she reached a point where she was standing over her trapped sister. She lowered her head toward the filly.

"Now you grab holda me and hold on tight."

Apple Bloom reached out. She wrapped her forehooves around her sister's neck and hung on for dear life. Tears were still streaming down her face, but as soon as Applejack drew herself back up the pain instantly retreated. Very carefully, Applejack pulled Apple Bloom upwards and using a forehoof swung her sister onto her back where she could rest comfortably. Apple Bloom hugged her sister's neck and buried her face in her mane. Applejack could feel her sister's tears dampening her coat, and she had to steel herself not to shed some of her own.

She slowly picked her way out of the thicket and carefully climbed back up the hill with her precious cargo. When she reached the top she saw that Big Macintosh had shed his own saddlebags, and from them had retrieved bandages, wipes, scissors, needle and thread, and a bottle of iodine, all out and ready.

Applejack put Apple Bloom down gently. The young filly had stopped sobbing, but the tears were still in her eyes, and she sniffled quietly. Big Macintosh reached for the iodine, but Applejack snatched it up first and then reached for a wipe, her attention never once leaving her sister. She put a hoof on Apple Bloom's flank and pulled her hind leg out to examine the cut.

"Sorry Apple Bloom," she said, "but this is gonna sting somethin' fierce."

Apple Bloom gritted her teeth and nodded. When she closed her eyes two fresh tears escaped down her cheeks.

Dabbing the wipe with the iodine, Applejack set to cleaning out the cut. Apple Bloom drew a sharp breath and groaned slightly, but she didn't cry out again. Once she was satisfied that the wound was clean, Applejack took a bandage from her brother and set to applying it to her sister's injured leg. It was not the easiest trick to pull off using just mouth and hooves, but Applejack had had Big Macintosh do it to her enough times when she was younger, so she was well versed.

Tying off the bandage, she turned to her brother. "Whaddya reckon Big Mac? As good as one of yours?"

Big Macintosh eyed the bandage critically. "Eeyup," he nodded. In truth it was better. He couldn't remember himself applying a dressing as neatly or as quickly as his sister had just done, and felt a strange bolt of guilt at the thought he’d almost tried to tend the wound himself. He looked through relieved eyes at Apple Bloom who'd stopped crying. She was already staring at her hind leg, moving and flexing it, making sure the dressing was tight enough. Then she looked up at Applejack and smiled.

Applejack drew her sister into a tight hug. "You okay, sugarcube?" she whispered.

"Yeah." She nuzzled her sister's neck, sniffling again. "Thanks, big sis."

Long moments passed, neither sister eager to let the other go. Presently though, Applejack realised that Big Macintosh had re-packed all the medical supplies into his saddlebags and was now sat a little way off gazing into the woods, roughly back in the direction of Sweet Apple Acres. He looked lost in thought.

"Guess uh, we'd better get a move on. Still got a ways to go before we reach the lake. Think ya can walk alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Apple Bloom replied, testing her leg and finding it in good working order. She'd probably still limp for a little while, but she resolved not to let her sister notice. She'd saved her and fixed her leg up, the least she deserved was to know she'd made it all better.

"Ya can ride on my back if you don't feel up to it," Applejack offered.

"I said I'm fine! I don't need to be carried around like a foal just cuz I got a boo-boo, sis."

"Okay, okay," Applejack chuckled, "but you let me know if it starts hurtin' any worse."

The three family members continued their journey onwards towards the lake. Big Macintosh leading the way, and the two sisters behind walking a little closer together than they had earlier.

"An' these red ones here – these'r good eatin'. Those ones over there, not so much. They'll give you a terrible tummy-ache."

Apple Bloom trotted over to retrieve one of the berries from a bush a little way off and brought it back to compare with the one her sister held. "But they look about the same...how can ya tell the difference?"

"Sometimes it's not just the berries ya gotta look at, but the leaves on the bushes they grow on. See?" She pointed out an example as they passed another bush festooned with delicious wild redberries.

"Okay. But, how do you know which ones are safe to eat in the first place?"

"I learned it off Big Macintosh. He taught me all about foraging in the wilderness when we used to come camping out here. Reckon I learned everythin' there is to know about the outdoors from our big brother there," she said proudly.

Big Macintosh's ears were burning. Not for the first time his interpretation of events was apparently different from Applejack's. He'd never really been trying to 'teach' her, he thought. Never presumed to have imparted any Great Brotherly Wisdom. It just happened to be that the night before their first camping trip he'd read an interesting, and thankfully credible, book on outdoor survival. Then on the journey the following day, he'd proceeded to recite practically the whole tome to his sister in traditional "Did You Know...?" style. Every so often afterwards he'd re-read that book, find one or two snippets he didn't remember, and the next time they did anything outdoors he'd have some more facts to reel off. He never really thought that she would take any of it to heart.

She was also embellishing a little – those trips years ago might have been the catalyst, but Applejack been out adventuring in the wilderness enough times since then that Mac was confident most of her actual survival skills came from practical experience, not the second-hand ramblings of an older brother eager to show off to his little sister.

The sun passed the halfway point in the sky signalling the onset of the afternoon, and about an hour after that the Apple Family finally reached Whitetail Lake.

The lake was a huge, spectacular thing. Its surface was beautifully calm, and it shimmered enticingly in the afternoon sunlight. The water was so crystal clear that you could see the lake-bed even at the deepest point. Around most of the perimeter the treeline extended all the way to the shoreline, as though the trees of Whitetail Wood were themselves drawn to the lake's beauty. Here and there though small semi-circular clearings of flat land dotted the lakeside, and it was in the largest of these that the Apples pitched their tents.

Big Macintosh lent Applejack a hoof in setting up the tent that she and Apple Bloom would be sleeping in – and joked that clearly she needed his help pitching a tent after all! – before setting up his own. His tent was larger than his sisters', though it would only be sleeping one. It was a deep red like his coat, and adorned with the familiar apple motifs that seemed to pervade just about every piece of property the Apple farmers owned.

Apple Bloom had set herself to work building a fire pit and gathering kindling and wood which she stacked neatly nearby. The fire wouldn't be lit until later in the evening, but it made sense to get everything ready.

With camp set, Applejack turned to behold the gorgeous lake. "I can't believe it. I mean, it hasn't changed at all! Don't you think, Big Mac?" she said with notes of excitement and wonder.

"Eeyup."

"Whaddya say brother? Fancy a dip, like old times?"

Big Macintosh hesitated at that. He looked meaningfully at Apple Bloom. She wouldn't be going swimming at all with the bandage on her leg. Applejack, catching his meaning quickly, looked abashed.

"Ah...uh...I mean, I guess we'll just...um...instead." She absently scratched the ground.

Apple Bloom quirked an eyebrow in obvious confusion. She looked at Big Macintosh looking at her, looked at her bandaged leg, looked back to Applejack. Then she twigged.

"Seriously? Oh, come on! Y'all'r not gonna go have fun swimming just cuz I went and fell down a hill?"

"Well, uh...it don't seem right is all–"

"Go!" It was an order, and the young filly emphasised it by putting her forehooves on Applejack's flank and shoving her rudely in the direction of the water. Applejack tried to protest again, but Apple Bloom was resolute. "Go on sis. Have fun. Please? I don't wanna feel responsible for y'all missin' out. Besides, it's not like I can get myself into any trouble over here..." she finished innocently.

Applejack looked to Big Macintosh, who simply nodded.

"Okay okay. You win. We're just gonna take a quick dip though, and we'll be right back. Don't you go doin' nothing foalish y'hear?"

"Go!"

Applejack took off her hat and set it down carefully inside her tent. Then she removed her mane and tail bands and placed them alongside. Big Macintosh shrugged off his yoke, and the two ponies walked down to the water's edge, to where a flat stone outcrop jutted into the lake like a natural jetty. Applejack set herself at the shore end, and with little warning, galloped as fast as she could along the impromptu pier before launching herself off the end as high as she could.

"Yee Haa!" she yelled, before tucking her legs and cannonballing spectacularly – and gracelessly – into the still waters of the lake. She resurfaced a moment later, treading water to keep her position, and Apple Bloom watched with rapt fascination as her brother looked about the do the exact same thing.

And he did. Big Macintosh raced along the short outcrop at full pelt, launched himself high into the air, and bombed with a splash so massive, the filly felt sure the lake would only be half full once it settled.

It was a distance contest, Apple Bloom realised as Big Macintosh's head reappeared above the surface. Applejack had won by about five feet and she whooped with glee. She opened her mouth to gloat at her big brother, but immediately found it filled with water as Macintosh, grinning stupidly, aimed a huge splash in her direction. Applejack, shocked and caught off guard, looked disgruntled. Then she looked determined. Breaking into a wicked grin, she mustered the biggest wave of water she could and sent it back in Big Mac's direction.

It rather degenerated from there.

The normally calm and picturesque lake and its peaceful soundscape became a relentless cacophony of the shouts and laughter of two grown ponies engaged in a juvenile splashing contest. They both looked happier than Apple Bloom could ever remember seeing them, and seeing them so happy made her happy too. It didn't even matter that she wasn't in the water with them.

By the time they dragged themselves out of the lake they were both out of breath, and neither seemed to be able to stop laughing as they reached the campsite. Their manes and coats were sopping wet and the late-afternoon sun, having by now descended below the level of the tree canopy, did little to warm or dry them. As with the previous evening there was a chill breeze on the air which seemed to catch Applejack just so, and she gave a small shiver.

"Whoo," she gasped, "Think we'd better get that fire lit, and then I reckon I'm hungry!"

Big Macintosh set the fire – which took quickly thanks to Apple Bloom's sensible selection of kindling and wood – while Applejack retrieved their food supplies from her saddlebag; a wide variety of sweet and savoury apple-based treats, augmented with some of the numerous berries she'd gathered on the trail. It didn't take long to prepare, and the three ponies soon settled themselves comfortably in front of the campfire.

They ate, and talked, and joked, and laughed. They reminisced about the past and conjectured about the future. Apple Bloom would talk about what she and her friends would try next to earn their cutie-marks; Applejack would tell tales of the adventures she'd been on with her own friends; Big Macintosh would, well, listen actually for the most part, but that was okay. He sometimes seemed a little distant and a couple of times Applejack thought she caught a sad smile on his lips, but then it would be gone.

They enjoyed the comfort of each others' company long into the evening as the sun slowly made for the horizon.

Chapter 3

As dusk settled in and marshmallows were toasted, Applejack announced it was time for a ghost story. "A real spine-tingler." She looked hopefully at her brother. "Ya got any Big Mac?"

Big Macintosh thought for a moment. Telling a frightening story to scare his sisters wasn't really what he was about. He'd much rather they were happy. But he then looked up and saw that Apple Bloom and Applejack were sat together, Apple Bloom cosying up close to her older sibling while Applejack hugged her with a foreleg about her withers. Both were looking at him excitedly.

Reluctantly, he took a breath. He only knew one ghost story. Still, if it was what his sisters wanted...

"Okay," he made his voice as close to an approximation of 'scary' as he could. He hoped he'd got it right, "I've heard...that in these very woods...lives a creature who preys on lost ponies...a creature so terrifyin' that nopony who's seen it has ever been heard from again..." he paused for effect. "The Headless Horse!"

The shocked gasps from both of his sisters...never came. In fact they both appeared strangely nonplussed by a concept as inherently spine-chilling as the headless horse. Bored, even? That was odd. When he'd first heard the tale as a young colt, he remembered it being very scary indeed. He was telling it right, wasn't he?

"Uh, Big Mac...?" Applejack began

"Aw, I've heard that one before!" Apple Bloom complained.

"...more'n once." Applejack finished. "Don't ya have any others?"

Big Macintosh deflated. He had let his sisters down. They'd been counting on their big brother to spellbind them with a terrifying, visceral horror to quicken the pulse and chill the blood, and all he'd been able to muster was a tired fable older than the hills. He shrugged, defeated and unable to meet the disappointed stares of his family.

"Nope," he said weakly.

"All right then. I've got a real hoof-biter for y'all," said Applejack, standing without missing a beat. She took a step back from the fire, casting her face into half-shadow. Her expression became a scowl and when she spoke next she didn't sound like the Applejack he knew. Instead her voice was low, gravelly, and menacing.

"I'm gonna tell ya'll about the legend...of the Mare Witch. She's supposed to have lived in these here woods for as long as anypony can remember. Except nopony's ever seen her. Exactly a year ago this very night, three ponies came searchin' for her. A week later, their torn saddlebags were found not far from here, a few tattered scrolls of frantic hoof-writing inside. What happened to the ponies, no-one knows to this day. But this is what was on those scrolls..."

Big Macintosh felt movement at his side, and when he looked down he saw that Apple Bloom had zipped around the fire to be next to him. She cuddled up close to his side and wrapped both forelegs around one of his. He smiled down at her and she smiled back up at him before focusing her attention back to the sinister, raspy-voiced storyteller that seemed to have taken the place of their sister.

Big Macintosh listened with fascination while Applejack relayed the tale of the Mare Witch, and what had apparently become of the lost ponies a year ago. He had no idea she had talent as a narrator – she relayed the story with such conviction and nuance that she successfully created the atmosphere of creeping dread she had to have been aiming for. There were some absurd logical fallacies he noted, but there always were with ghost stories, and she tried to lampshade the worst of them.

As the story approached a climax set in some remote log cabin which was – of course – said to be close by, and the fates of the three ponies looked increasingly grim, Big Macintosh noticed Apple Bloom becoming more and more nervous. She was pressing as close to him as possible and he could feel his little sister's pulse racing. He expected her to have her eyes shut tight, but when he glanced down she was transfixed – unable to tear her terrified gaze from Applejack's half-illuminated rictus. With every word of the story, her breaths became shallower and more ragged.

Reaching his foreleg out and around his youngest sister, Big Macintosh hugged her close. Almost at once she stopped shaking, her breathing became more regular, and he felt her tense muscles relax slightly. It didn't stop her letting out a squeak of terror as Applejack reached an implicitly grisly – but suspiciously unspecific – crescendo, but she hugged back against him and seemed to calm.

"...an' none of them were ever heard from again." Applejack dipped her head so that her face was hidden beneath her hat, and stepped back towards the fire. When she lifted it again it was as though a transformation had taken place – gone was the sinister scowl and gravelly voice of the story-teller, replaced by the warm smile of the happy sister he'd always known and loved.

Apple Bloom was on her – rather shakey – hooves in an instant, racing to Applejack and almost bowling her over. "That was an amazin' story sis!" she said, with just a slight tremble to her voice as the adrenaline rush died. She nuzzled Applejack's neck, and the gesture was returned.

"Aw, shucks," Applejack blushed a little, "Hope it weren't too frightenin' for ya'll."

"Nah," Apple Bloom declared, her confidence returning. "I wasn't scared at all. Besides, I had Big Macintosh protectin' me."

"Yep," said Applejack, giving her brother a wink, "If I was that Mare Witch, I'd be mighty worried if I stumbled into our camp with Big Mac around!"

Big Macintosh nodded back. "Ya certainly tell a mighty fine tale, AJ," he began. Then, keeping his expression carefully neutral, he ventured, "Maybe you should write your own someday."

Applejack did a quick double take. So fast that had Big Macintosh not been looking for it, it would have gone completely unnoticed. She glanced at him with suspicion for a split-second, but Big Mac's poker face was perfect.

The moment was about to pass safely, when Apple Bloom drove a train through it.

"Oh! She is! Didn't you know? Applejack's writin' a super awesome amazin' novel!"

Both Big Macintosh's and Applejack's jaws hit the floor as they stared, wide-eyed at their youngest sibling. Apple Bloom for her part was grinning and bouncing on the spot, her injured leg seeming to give her no grief.

Applejack couldn't seem to get her words out. "H-how...how do you...?"

"Scootaloo told me," replied Apple Bloom, voice now full of excitement. "She said Rainbow Dash told her you were writin' a novel when they went cloud surfing. I can't wait to read it, but I've looked everywhere an' I can't find it!"

Apple Bloom hadn't noticed that Applejack was fuming, but Big Macintosh had. She was glaring at a neutral point somewhere on the ground and muttering quietly through tightly clenched teeth. He caught "Rainbow Dash", "her mouth shut" and "what's good for her!" He could guess the rest, including the curses. Then she suddenly looked up at him and fixed him with such an angry stare that he flinched where he sat.

"You." It was an accusation. "You knew too! Does the whole dang town know!?"

Big Macintosh knew he hadn't done anything wrong. He knew that objectively he had no need to defend himself. But there was something about that accusing glare, that look of betrayal on Applejack's face, that made him feel guilty. He held up a forehoof, recognising the defensive gesture for what it was, but began in his usual tone, slow and methodical.

"I didn' hear about it from any of yer friends, AJ. I was cleanin' when I stumbled across a notebook in your writin'. It had a title and 'by Applejack' on, and ya don't keep a diary, so I just put two and two together and put it back." He deliberately left out details like where he'd found it and what the title was for Apple Bloom's sake. If Applejack didn't want her sister to know, well, he thought that was sad, but it was her choice. Applejack still didn't look convinced though, prompting him to add, "I didn't read it. Not one word."

"Why not?" asked Apple Bloom innocently, still quite oblivious to the minefield she was in. "And where'd you find it? C'mon Big Mac, I wanna read it!"

Applejack couldn't contain her anger any longer and she snapped. "And why in the hay would you wanna read it huh? Wanna make fun? Fancy a good laugh at yer sister's expense!?"

No sooner had the words left her mouth than she wished more than anything that she could take them back. But it was too late. The damage was done.

Apple Bloom's bouncing ceased and she stared, terrified, at Applejack. Then her face crumpled. She began to well up and large, silent tears formed in her eyes.

Big Macintosh gawped in shock. He couldn't recall Applejack ever having an outburst like that. Not to anypony. He closed his eyes and shook his head, disappointed. Applejack for her part stared at the ground like a dog that had just been scolded, her anger evaporating in an instant.

Big Macintosh took a long breath. Telling off his sister was not something he enjoyed doing, but on rare occasions it was necessary. Before he could begin his reprimand though, he was beaten to the punch by the young filly who was now sobbing uncontrollably.

"N-no, A-Applejack, I didn't mean it like that," she begged, "I...just heard you were writin' a story, an' I got really excited, an' I...just...wanted to read it." She sniffed. "I don't understand, sis," she pleaded, looking at Applejack with wide, tear-filled eyes, "Why...would I make fun of you?"

The question was so innocent that Applejack winced, and threatened to well up as well. She'd lost her temper and yelled at her sister, and why? Because she wanted to read a story. Because she honestly believed that just because her sister had written something, it'd be the best work of fiction ever penned. Why did she deserve to be shouted at for that?

For the second time in two days, Big Macintosh saw both his sisters miserable and at a loss for words. He suddenly didn't feel a whole lot like giving Applejack the dressing down he'd prepared. Instead he adopted a softer tone and turned to Apple Bloom.

"I reckon it's–" but Applejack raised a hoof, cutting him off.

Applejack took a deep breath and with great difficulty, looked at her young sister. She concentrated hard on keeping her voice steady.

"I'm so sorry Apple Bloom. I didn't mean to yell just now. I'm just...I'm a mite embarrassed about it. Afraid too, I guess. I just don't want anypony to read it." She was blushing a little and began absently digging at the ground with one hoof, but managed to hold her little sister's gaze.

"But why? Rainbow Dash let Scootaloo read her story," Apple Bloom pouted.

Applejack snorted. "Dash shows off her 'novel' to everypony who'll sit still. It's five paragraphs long!" Applejack said dryly. "Plus, 'awesomest' ain't a real word, and she uses it in the first–!" Applejack caught herself. She shook her head and turned back to her sister. "See, this is the sort of thing I mean. I don't want ponies to say cruel things about what I've written. I'd just rather it went ignored." She paused and met Apple Bloom's gaze again. "But that don't mean I was right to lose my temper. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I'm sorry. Can ya forgive me?"

Apple Bloom was at a loss. She'd never had Applejack ask her for forgiveness before. It was always supposed to be the other way round. She fidgeted, not knowing what to do, and suddenly aware of a huge burden on her shoulders. As she shifted her weight she felt her bandage rub on her hindleg – still as tight and comfortable as when her older sister had tied it earlier. Those memories came flooding back on a wave of emotion and all she could think of was just how lucky she was to have Applejack to take care of her, and how afraid she was of losing her. She ran to her sister and hugged her as hard as she could.

"I'm sorry sis, I didn't mean to make you mad. I promise, I won't ever read your story."

"Uh...I think we got turned around there somewhere. I'm the one whose apologisin', sugarcube." Applejack put a hoof under Apple Bloom's chin and gently raised it, so that she was looking into her eyes. "You've done nothin' wrong." She felt a tear escape down her cheek.

A whispered "Okay..." was all Apple Bloom could muster in reply. The conversation may not have been conclusive, but they both instinctively knew that the fight was over.

Not for the first time that day, Applejack looked up to find Big Macintosh sat a little way off, giving them space. He had a lonely gaze fixed on the stars high above.

"Well, I reckon we've had enough drama fer one day," she said, loud enough for him to hear. "Whaddya say? Time to hit the hay?"

"Eeyup.” He smiled back at them.

Unfortunately, the day had one last sting in its tail.

The fire was doused with dirt and Big Macintosh made a short trip down to the lake to re-fill their canteens, leaving his sisters to retire to their tent. No sooner had he reached the shore than he heard a sharp scream from Apple Bloom and a frightened "Whoa, Nelly!" from Applejack.

Dropping the flagons he galloped back to the campsite and was relieved to see both his sisters safely stood several feet away, staring at their tent with eyes that were wide with fear. Worryingly, he also noticed a low growl and a shuffling noise coming from within the tent itself.

He stepped protectively in front of Applejack – who was herself already stood in front of Apple Bloom – and regarded the tent. He couldn't see into it since the flap had fallen closed, but there was definite movement inside. From behind him, Applejack spoke up.

"A wild boar. One of the biggest gosh darn wild boars I've ever seen, just lyin' there right in the tent. Whew! Gave us one heck of a start."

"I don't think he wants to leave," Apple Bloom offered.

"Oh, he's leavin' alright. He just don't know it yet."

Unfortunately, Applejack was about to be proved correct. At that moment, whether spooked by the disembodied voices from outside the tent, or by something it had discovered inside, the lost wild boar began shrieking and squealing. Not seeing a way out of its green-hued prison, it proceeded to begin tearing the tent apart in a desperate panic. Sharp tusks tore through canvas, wooden tent poles snapped in twain and the tent billowed and collapsed on the hysterical creature, sending it into a new level of frenzied destruction. Relying now purely on the instinct to flee, the boar took off running, and when it reached the limits that the canvas would allow, it kept going. Tent pegs were pulled from the ground, guide ropes snapped, and the boar – tent and all – took off running desperately into the woods.

The three ponies just stood there, stunned, as the shrieks faded into the distance.

"Maybe snuck in while we were swimmin'", Big Macintosh eventually thought aloud, "or listenin' to yer story."

There was another silence before Applejack spoke. "Our saddlebags are in there. Our supplies."

"Nothin' that can't be replaced, AJ," he said, nudging her meaningfully. And then, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking, he carried on, "No point searchin' for it out in the dark. It's gone."

Applejack looked at him defiantly, prompting him to reiterate, "It's gone, AJ. I ain't gonna let ya go wanderin' off in the woods all alone in the pitch dark."

For a moment Applejack looked ready to argue, but then she paused just long enough for common sense to prevail. She sighed.

"We'll try and find it in the morning," Big Macintosh consoled. "Till then, you'd both best take my tent tonight. I can sleep out here."

"Don't be silly big brother, there's plenty room in yer tent for all of us! It's gonna be cold tonight."

"Don't seem proper to–"

"I said don't be silly, Big Mac."

Apple Bloom walked up to him, still a little shaken up. "You are stayin' in the tent with us, aren't you?"

Big Macintosh relented. He didn't really have a choice, did he?

Drawing back the flap to his tent, he allowed his two sisters inside. He paused at the threshold, looking back into the woods. He held his breath and listened, eyes searching the inky blackness of the forest.

Nothing.

No movement. No sound except the chill breeze through the trees.

Applejack's head reappeared at the tent flap, following Big Macintosh's gaze into the night.

"Somethin' up?" she whispered.

Satisfied, Big Mac turned away from the woods. "Nope."

"Then get yer flank in here where it's warm." And with that she disappeared back inside. A moment later he followed.

'Warm' was a relative term, the cold night air having long since penetrated the tent. Since his sisters’ sleeping bags were now lost in the forest somewhere, Big Macintosh opened his own out as far as possible to serve as a makeshift mattress. Applejack and Apple Bloom huddled down together for warmth with Big Macintosh himself curled protectively around them, doing what he could to shelter them both from the bitter chill. There wasn’t quite enough room for him on the sleeping bag too, and he half lay on the cold ground sheet, but that was alright. As he lay there feeding warmth to his two younger sisters, doing his part to keep them comfortable and safe, Big Macintosh was overcome with a feeling of contentment. He resolved to stay awake at least until his sisters had fallen asleep themselves and listened happily as they drifted off, their breathing becoming soft and regular. He smiled.

This was his job.

Had he known or believed that there was any danger out in the woods, Big Macintosh would not have slept at all. He would have faithfully stood watch over his family the whole night through. But he had ventured and travelled Whitetail enough times to know it was safe; that there were no vicious creatures or other dangers in the forest. The boar might well have been startling, but it was just a lost creature looking for a place to sleep – its actions borne of fear, not malice – and it was never a real threat. So, once he was certain that his sisters were safely asleep, he slowly lowered his head and closed his eyes. After the events of the day sleep came as quickly to him as it had seemed to for his kin.

He dreamt. Oddly enough, he knew he was dreaming from the outset, despite how otherwise normal and mundane the dream itself was.

He was walking through the woods next to his two sisters, exactly as he had done earlier in the day. Every so often he would point something out or make an observation about berries, but his sisters never seemed to pay him any mind. He noticed that every time, he seemed to fade a little – to become a little more insubstantial until he could barely see or feel himself at all. Eventually, he was just a disembodied presence floating through the woods alongside his family. Always there, never noticed. He felt the dream ending, words and colours becoming more distant and echoey. Apple Bloom said something about having a brother, once, and then they were both gone.

Big Macintosh awoke slowly. He guessed he had only been asleep for an hour, two at most since it was still well dark outside. He noticed that in his sleep he had curled up closer around Applejack, who herself had curled up around Apple Bloom so that the filly was nestled snugly between them. They were both still fast asleep and he looked down at them now, seeing them at peace.

The two most important ponies in the world.

They were both so different, but when they were happy together it was like the whole world lit up a little.

Apple Bloom. Energetic, enthusiastic, perpetually cheerful and infused with a boundless optimism he could only respect. He smiled at the memory of the "Cutie Mark Crusader Alligator Wrestlers!" which last week had involved a trio of fillies wrestling with Pinkie Pie's pet alligator and – for reasons he didn't quite understand – Pinkie Pie herself, in an alligator costume.

He smiled again. Someday soon, Apple Bloom would get what she wanted most in the world – her cutie mark. And when she did she would find out that it wasn't the destination that mattered so much as how you got there. And what a journey she'd had!

He turned to Applejack. His eldest sister, with whom he’d grown up. He had very few memories from the time before Applejack was born, and none of them stood out as being anything other than mundane. By contrast he could recall every detail of the day his first sister had come into the world. He still counted it as the happiest day of his life, and always would. He shared so many memories with her. Most of them happy, some sad, and it was only by being there for each other that they had both come through those dark times. She was strong, confident – stubborn! – reliable, and independent. He felt a familiar pang of sadness at that last thought, and turned his thoughts to it.

Ever since they'd been foaled, he had been there for his sisters. As they'd grown he'd always done his best to watch over and protect them; to be the big brother he was supposed to be. But for a while now he had gradually been coming to the realisation that he wouldn't be needed forever. In fact if he was honest with himself, he probably wasn't needed even now. Certainly Applejack didn’t need watching over or protecting any longer, and he couldn’t think of anything he could do for Apple Bloom that Applejack hadn’t proved to be better at – be it organising camping trips, bandaging wounds, or teaching her about the great outdoors. He hadn’t even been able to tell a simple ghost story properly. And these were just the examples from today.

If he wasn't needed, what use was he? He only had one job after all.

Carefully, making sure not to disturb either of his resting siblings, he stood and quietly made his way out of the tent. He wandered down to the moonlit lake, where the only sound was the gentle lapping of water against the shore. Sitting carefully, he looked mournfully up at the stars and thought. He thought about Applejack and all of the things they'd used to do together. Then he thought of all the things she had used to ask him for, or need him for. He couldn't think of one thing she still needed him for now.

As for Apple Bloom, she was closer to Applejack than to him. And that was only a good thing, because by his reckoning, Applejack was doing more for Apple Bloom than he could ever remember himself doing for Applejack. She was such a good sister. They both were.

He smiled a faint, sad smile. His job was complete wasn't it? He was supposed to take care of his family, and he had succeeded. He should be happy. He closed his eyes and searched for that familiar feeling of satisfaction and relief that came from a job well done, but for some reason it was strangely elusive. He tried again, tried to make himself feel it, but instead he felt only suffocating melancholy.

"Big Mac?"

Applejack's voice was barely more than a whisper, but full of concern. She walked quietly up to him from behind and sat down by his side, never once taking her eyes off his face. Her hat had apparently been left in the tent, and her mane hung loose. "Big Mac, what's wrong? Why're you crying?"

He hadn't realised he had been. He looked down at Applejack and only then felt the tears begin to flow. He blinked them back and smiled disarmingly. Applejack just fixed him with those emerald eyes of hers, a genuinely worried expression on her face.

He could have said nothing. He could have said he was fine. He could have made something up.

It wouldn't have helped. Applejack would have persisted until she got the truth one way or another. And he couldn't lie to his family. He took a breath and looked back at his little sister.

"I've watched you do a lot of growin' up these past few seasons, AJ." He smiled. "You've turned into the most responsible, dependable pony I can think of. You've got some swell friends to go off havin' fun with, you handle the farm better than I ever did, and you take such good care of your sister that she looks at ya like you're made out of solid gold." He felt his eyes slip from her gaze and turned to stare out over the lake. "Reckon ya'll don't need me anymore, that's all."

"Oh, big brother." Applejack was welling up herself, though she made a valiant effort to fight off the tears. She put a hoof on her brother's shoulder. "Of course we still need ya.

"I can remember when I was Apple Bloom's age. I can remember how lucky I felt knowing my big brother was always lookin' out for me. That whenever I really needed him, he was always there. I just want Apple Bloom to look up to me the same way I looked up to you. The way I still look up to ya..." Tears came to his sister's eyes, and she slowly put her forelegs around him and hugged him close, nuzzling into his neck. "I may not need ya to get the cookie jar down off’a the high shelf anymore, but I still need ya, big brother."

Big Macintosh reached out for Applejack and hugged her back. To his surprise she took a shaky breath and carried on.

"I know I've been real lucky these last few years. I've made some special friends who mean the world to me, the farm's doing real well, the family's happy...but I ain't naive. I know it won't likely last forever. Sooner or later some hard times'r gonna come my way. Suppose I should be worried about it, but I'm not. Because I know that no matter how bad things get, no matter how big a mistake I make or how hard I fall, my big brother is always gonna be there for me, and he's gonna make everything okay." She looked up at him, reverence clear in her eyes. "Just like he always does."

They sat there, still, silent, for a long while. They looked out over the lake, watching the moonlight play across its surface, listened to the gentle sound of it lapping the shore.

"Applejack? Big Mac? What's wrong?"

It was the most innocent question, asked in the softest voice you could imagine. For the second time that evening, Big Macintosh turned to see one of his sisters having snuck up on him with an expression of genuine worry. He couldn't take much more of this. He was already crying. Wasn't that enough?

It was Applejack who spoke, though. "It's okay Apple Bloom. Big Mac an' I were just reminiscin'." But rather than tell her not to worry and go back to the tent, as the filly expected, instead she released Big Macintosh from the hug, and extended a foreleg out to her sister, inviting her in.

"Did I ever tell you about the time I nearly lost my leg?"

Big Macintosh gave a faint snort, a tiny smile, and looked back out to the lake. Applejack just smiled at his reaction and continued.

"This was not long after you were foaled, an' I was about your age. Big Macintosh and I were in the farmhouse, an' we were having the most fierce fight ya ever did see." She paused and put a hoof under her chin thoughtfully. "Can't recall what it was about..." she shot a hopeful glance over at her brother, who just shook his head and shrugged. "Don't matter. Anyhow, I didn' get things my own way, so I yelled that I never wanted to see him again and I stormed out. I galloped all across the farm in such a rage until I ended up not far from my clubhouse...uh...your clubhouse as is now.

"There was an old rickety fence there, half rotten, and I can remember feelin' so mad that I just wanted to smash somethin' to pieces. So I bucked it. And I missed. Got a length of wood this big skewered right into Kicks McGee," she waggled her right hindleg in demonstration, "an' I fell to the floor like a sack o' carrots.

"I was in so much pain I was cryin'. I was a long way from the house, and I couldn't walk cuz it hurt so bad. I felt so wretched. I thought nopony cared about me and nopony knew where I was, so then I cried some more. And that's when I heard the sound of the fastest hoofbeats there ever were. My big brother came galloping up like his tail was on fire, callin' out my name. He found me o'course. He knew where I was gonna be even before I did. He sat me down, pulled that chunk of wood right out of my leg, and patched me up. Just like that", she pointed at the bandage on Apple Bloom's own leg.

"Then he hugged me tight, and I felt so safe right then. But I said that I didn't understand why he came lookin' for me. That I thought he was mad at me. And I'll never forget what he said back."

"'I'm yer brother, sis. I love ya. And I'm always gonna be there for ya.'"

Applejack looked up as her brother spoke, quoting himself from the past. Fresh tears were in his eyes now. She smiled and gave a slow nod. "Then he put me on his back and carried me the whole way back to the house, just cuz he didn' want me hurtin'."

She looked down at Apple Bloom. "I realised then that Big Macintosh is the best big brother a pony could ever want or have.” Then, suddenly serious, she fixed her sister with a meaningful gaze. “And you an' me are the only two ponies in the whole world who'll ever know that."

Apple Bloom was still looking at Applejack, but her face was a mask of concentration. There was something odd about the story she couldn't put her hoof on. She scrutinised 'Kicks McGee' suspiciously.

"Big Macintosh bandaged your leg up huh? Just like this?"

"Yup!" Replied Applejack, instantly returning to a lighthearted demenour. She had a good idea where this was going already. She glanced at Big Macintosh, noticing the corners of his mouth turned up into the faintest of smiles.

"An' you were fine?"

"Uh...yep?" She waggled her hindleg again as proof.

"And...this piece of wood that nearly took your leg off. It was how big?"

"Oh...well, about yay..." She held her hooves out about two feet apart. Slightly wider than earlier, Apple Bloom noted. "It sure was a biggie. Felt like my leg was gonna fall clean off."

Big Macintosh cleared his throat, right on cue, and reached out to his sister's outstretched hooves. Pressing on them gently, Applejack let him slowly bring them together until they were about two inches apart.

They shared a laugh. Big Macintosh muttered something good naturedly about how Applejack was 'supposed to be the honest one.'

"So, you didn't have a possibly terrible crippling injury. You just had a splinter?"

"Apple Bloom, the size of it ain't what's important. What's important is that when I was down and hurtin', and I thought nopony in the world cared about me, Big Mac was there. Just like he always is. And just like he'll always be for you too. He's the best big brother in the world, and we are so, so lucky to have him."

"But I know that already." Apple Bloom spoke like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Had it really taken her older sister that long to work something out she'd known on day one? Applejack was looking at her like she expected her to elaborate, so she continued, "That Mare Witch of yours sure was scary, sis. I don't think I coulda listened to it all without Big Macintosh with me. And then that boar gave me such a fright, I don't think I ever could have slept without him bein' there with us."

Applejack gave Big Macintosh an I told you so look. Big Macintosh had finally managed to compose his features into his careful, neutral expression.

"He sure does have a way of makin' ya feel safe, don't he?" She paused, searching her brother's face, but he was unreadable. "I'm gonna tell ya one more story. About the first time Big Macintosh took me adventurin'. Before you were born, back when I was even younger than you and Big Macintosh was a little older, he took me exploring in Old Hollows Cave."

Big Macintosh's eyes went wide for a moment, and a look of pure surprise fleetingly crossed his face. He looked down at Applejack. "Old Hollows Cave?" He shook his head in disbelief. "Ya still remember that?"

Applejack just grinned. "Eeyup!"

"Old Hollows Cave..." Apple Bloom repeated. The phrase 'spelunking cutie-mark' had entered her head and refused to leave. But there was a problem somewhere. "I've never heard of it. Where is it?"

Applejack and Big Macintosh shared a look.

"It's under Granny Smith's bed." Big Mac deadpanned.

Applejack almost cracked up. "Oh, the danger! Oh the peril!" She brought a foreleg to her forehead, doing her best Rarity imitation. "Why, we were lost in that cave for hours, avoiding deadly quick-dust traps and shoebox rockslides. It was dark and smelly, and there were booby-traps everywhere, but I wasn't scared. I knew I was gonna be okay because I had my big brother with me keeping me safe.

"But then, all of a sudden, we were attacked by the biggest darn cave-snake I've ever seen!"

"One of Granny Smith's old long-socks," Big Macintosh explained.

"Oh, It was terrifyin'. I'll never forget its round, toothless mouth, its skin all pink with grey stripes–"

"Grey, with pink stripes..." Big Macintosh rebutted.

"–and it was comin' straight for me! I thought I was a gonner, but then Big Mac jumped in front of me and fought it off and saved my life. Oh, he was so brave!"

"Hold on. You were attacked...by a sock?"

"Snake," Applejack and Big Macintosh said together, a little defensively.

"And then we found the treasure and Big Mac found the way out of the cave and we escaped together."

"Um...treasure?" asked Apple Bloom, quirking an eyebrow.

"S’always treasure ain't there?" said Big Macintosh, like it was obvious.

"That's why you go explorin' in caves, to find the treasure," confirmed Applejack. "As it happens, it was one of Granny Smith's old shiny buttons." She looked at her brother, suddenly serious. "I still have it y'know. Always kept it safe. That silly button means a lot to me."

"I just...can't believe you remember it at all. Was just a silly game we played once."

Applejack shook her head. "It was the first time we really did somethin' together. I couldn't forget that. And after, I reckon we did pretty much everythin' together, you an' me. Like we weren't just brother and sister, we were best friends too." She cast her gaze downwards. "Guess we ain't done much that ain't work for a while now, and I don't rightly know why, but that's why I wanted us all to come out here. To fix that. I never meant for you to feel like you weren't needed, brother. You are."

Big Macintosh just put his hoof on Applejack's shoulder. "You're a swell sister, AJ. Don't ever change."

Long moments passed in silence, until Applejack decided that at some point there was going to need to be some action.

"Well, we'd better head on back to bed. What was I sayin' earlier on? Somethin' about this day havin' too much drama in it already?"

Big Macintosh glanced at the sky. "Reckon it's tomorrow, now."

They chuckled a little and headed back to the tent to sleep the rest of the night in peace.

Chapter 4

The next morning the three members of the Apple family were up just as the sun crested the horizon. After the emotionally draining events of the previous day, they had all slept like foals.

They had decided to head out in search of their wayward tent and supplies, but the search hadn't lasted long. When the boar had run off dragging the tent behind it, one of the pegs or broken poles had left a gash in the ground that was simple to follow. And then, barely even a hundred meters from their campsite, they found it in a ruined heap on the ground. The boar was nowhere to be seen, but both Applejack's and Apple Bloom's saddlebags were there and luckily, aside from being quite dirty, they were pretty much undamaged. The same couldn't be said for the supplies inside though. The boar must have freed itself from the tent and then had a good rummage around in those bags, because all of the food was gone and everything else was either destroyed or otherwise unusable.

Applejack proclaimed that with a little help from Granny Smith, she'd eventually be able to fix up the tent good as new. They packed it up as best they could and managed to fit it inside one of Applejack's now-empty saddlebags. They all agreed that since their food was missing in action it was probably best to cut the trip short and head on home, and the three ponies returned to the lake to break camp.

The journey back to Sweet Apple Acres passed without incident, though Big Macintosh noticed Apple Bloom looked a little distracted, as though she was constantly thinking on something. A couple of times she looked as though she'd been about to ask something, but then it passed and she walked on. Whatever it was didn't seem to be worrying her, and she was walking fine on her leg now so he didn't press it. As the sun ticked over from morning into afternoon they found themselves on the familiar dirt track that led to the gates of the farm. Granny Smith greeted them as if she hadn't even noticed they'd been away, they stored all their camping gear away – what was left of it – and then, lunch.

And just like that, farm-life clicked back to normal. Granny Smith took her nap, Applejack had flower beds that needed tending, and Big Macintosh dragged the wood-cart into the yard in front of the house to grease its wheels – he was going to be using it a lot in the coming months. That left Apple Bloom a little out of sorts, and alone with the thought that had been stuck in her head since last night. It was silly, she knew. A completely foalish notion, and she wasn't a foal any more! But...in spite of all that, she wanted to know.

She found Applejack watering the posies out the back of the house, and approached her a little more hesitantly than usual.

"Um...Applejack?"

Applejack put down the watering can she'd held in her mouth, and looked round with a smile.

"Hey there Apple Bloom! What's up?"

"Well, I was wonderin'...if...uh..." With a sinking feeling she realised she couldn't bring herself to say it out loud. It was too silly and if she told Applejack about it, Applejack would think she was silly too. She didn't want that! "Uh...nevermind!" She finished cheerfully, and tried to bound away like they'd just been discussing the weather.

"Apple Bloom!" It wasn't an angry shout, but it stopped her in her tracks nonetheless. Applejack walked up to her, still smiling. "What's up, sugarcube?"

"Nothin' sis, just..uh...seein' if you needed help, but it looks like you got it all under control here so see ya!"

"C'mon AB, somethin's been turnin' up in yer head since we left the lake."

"It's nothin'. Just a silly thought is all. I should..."

"Hey," Applejack said softly, putting a hoof under Apple Bloom's chin and fixing her with a kind look. "Ya'll know you can tell yer big sister anythin', right?"

"Uh-huh," she nodded.

"And you know your sister cares too much about ya that she won't quit until she finds out what's botherin' you?"

"Mm-hmm." Another nod.

"Well," Applejack said victoriously, drawing herself back up, "spit it out."

"I...was just wondering...if I could go to Old Hollows Cave with you sometime." There, it was out.

Applejack looked a little apprehensive. She subconsciously rubbed a foreleg. "Uh...Apple Bloom, you know it ain't a real cave, right?"

"I know that sis! It's just...the way you talked about it...you made it sound like it was the best fun you ever had...and it brought you and Big Mac so close together. I just don't wanna miss out on doin' somethin' like that with you." She looked at the ground, pawing at it absently.

"I just think you might be a little old for Old Hollows Cave. I was younger'n you when I went in with Big Mac." She paused, and noted from Apple Bloom’s reaction that she was already interpreting the response so far as a ‘No’. "But...if you really wanna see what's in Old Hollows Cave, then we can go right now." After all, what was the harm?

"Really? Great!" Apple Bloom practically galloped towards the farmhouse.

They checked that Granny Smith was still napping before making their way up to her bedroom. It was after all forbidden territory, and as Applejack pushed open the door and stepped inside, she felt the same little thrill she had years ago with Big Mac. They weren't supposed to be there! The two sisters stole in quietly, closing the door with exaggerated care even though the chances of Granny Smith waking were very remote. She had slept through a stampede more than once.

Granny Smith's bed stood in the centre of the room, adorned with green bed linen. A white cloth skirt hung below the mattress reaching down to the floor, obscuring any view of what was under the bed. At the centre of the foot of the bed the skirt split into a flap that could be pulled apart. Applejack walked over to it, glancing out the window on the way. Big Macintosh was still down in the yard, busy removing the wheels on the log wagon. She turned her attention to Apple Bloom and, indicating the flap at the foot of the bed, began in a low voice.

"This here is the entrance to Old Hollows Cave. Folks round here say that no pony who's gone in has ever come out. Legend has it, that somewhere in this cave, is the famous Old Hollow's Treasure. Do you think you have what it takes to find it, young one?"

She wasn't entirely sure she'd remembered it right, nor was she convinced she'd captured the same sense of wonder and dread she'd felt all those years ago with her brother. But Apple Bloom seemed excited enough.

"Yes I do!"

"Then stay close, and let's go."

Applejack had to remove her hat to have any hope of entering the cave, and even then it was a bit of a squeeze. Once they were both under the bed she couldn't help but feel that she'd remembered the cave being a lot bigger. The skirt cut off most of the outside light, so it was still as dark as she remembered, but there had also been much more stuff in the cave back then. There used to be shoe boxes, shoes, nick-naks and lots more besides. Evidently Granny Smith had had a clear-out since, because now there was nothing. Well, except the dust. There was still plenty of that.

She had expected Apple Bloom to immediately break the fantasy, admit that maybe this had been a mistake, and go off and find her friends for some real fun. And Applejack realised that there was a part of her that would have been quite sad at that. This was one of her most treasured memories after all, and now that they were here she wanted to share it with her younger sibling. But to Apple Bloom's credit, she really wanted to give it a go and she caught a faint, if not entirely genuine, "Wow..." from the young filly.

It did lessen the impact somewhat, Applejack had to admit, that once your eyes adjusted you could see the whole cave, front to back. Part of the adventure had been not knowing what you would find around the next shoebox. Not wanting to shatter the fantasy just yet – though she wasn't sure if that was for Apple Bloom's sake or her own – she tried to put it in context.

"Dang, looks like some grave-robbers have beaten us to it. The whole cave's been cleared out! There's nothin'..." she stopped. There was something. A shape lying crumpled beneath the head of the bed, furthest away from them. As Applejack's eyes continued to adjust to the gloom, she gave a small gasp. "Well I'll be..."

Covered in dust beneath the headboard, where it must have lain untouched for years, was a long pink-and-grey striped sock.

"Is that...?" Apple Bloom's voice came, filled with mock fear.

"Yep." Applejack said urgently. She couldn't keep a smile off her face, and there was a twinkle in her eye. "Be careful Apple Bloom. These cave-snakes are dangerous as can be. We don't wanna wake it up!"

The sock lay perfectly still.

"Oh no! I think it's a-stirrin'! Look out Apple Bloom, it's coming right at us!"

The sock refused to move.

"Get behind me, Apple Bloom! I'll take care of this..."

"Be careful sis, make sure it doesn't get you!"

Setting the cartwheel back on its spindle, Big Macintosh paused and looked up towards Granny Smith's bedroom, from where shouts and bouts of laughter had suddenly sprung. He smiled to himself. Both his sisters were up there. He could guess what they were doing.

"Oh no! Help!"

"Hang on Applejack! I'll save you!"

He smiled again, and gave a small chuckle. That wasn't how it went. But it didn't matter, it wasn't his game any more. Applejack could make the rules as she wanted.

"Oh no, it's got both of us! Oh help! Won't somepony help us?"

He caught a glimpse of Applejack's head at the window, checking he was still down in the yard. Then it was gone.

"I said...won't some big, strong pony come and save these two poor fillies from this terrifyin' snake!"

"Yeah! Help us!" Apple Bloom's voice agreed.

Sighing, Big Macintosh put his wrench to one side and calmly made his way towards the farmhouse. The chores would have to wait. It looked like he was needed at least one more time.

He still had a job to do.

--End--

Epilogue

"I did not!"

"Yes you did Rainbow Dash, and don't try to deny it! You blabbed about my novel after you promised not to tell!"

"I didn't blab about anything! I mentioned it once! As an example!"

"Oh yeah? An example of what? How dumb ponies can be sometimes I'll bet!"

"No..." Rainbow Dash allowed herself to float back to the ground. She kept her wings flared though, in case she had to make a quick exit after all. "Scoots was looking kinda down that day. She was frustrated about flying or cutie-marks or whatever, so I said 'Hey squirt, you can do anything you set your mind to. And you can be good at whatever you want to be good at.'"

Applejack eyed her suspiciously. Rainbow Dash groaned in exasperation.

"Look, I was trying to tell her one of those life lesson type things, you know, like you're always doing with your sister. I'm just...not as good at that stuff, so I said 'Y'know, like AJ, she's writing a novel.' That was it! I even said it was good!"

"Oh, Really?" Disbelief reigned in Applejack's tone.

"Yes! Obviously not Rainbow Dash good, but still pretty awesome. Besides, your book's full of stuff like that. I figured you'd understand."

"So you did read it?"

"Yeah yeah, okay, I read your book, you read my book, yadda-yadda-yadda group hug." She looked seriously at Applejack. "Look...are we cool?"

Applejack gave a small grin. Giving Dash a hard time was always fun, but she decided to show mercy. She'd heard more than enough to forgive her, and for once Dash looked genuinely worried that she'd upset her.

"We're cool RD. Just don't go mentionin' it to nopony else for a while though, huh?"

Rainbow Dash breathed a sigh of relief. "You got it. Uh...so now are you gonna tell me why you have lots of pink and grey fluff in your mane?"

"Oh, Big Macintosh rescued me from a snake," she teased. Dash would go crazy trying to figure it out. "Speakin’ of which, we’re spendin’ the rest of the day together in town so I gotta run. Catch ya later," she called over her shoulder as she quickly trotted off, leaving Dash with an expression of confused concentration that was just priceless.

"What's this, sis?" Apple Bloom studied the paper bag handed to her. She looked up at Applejack, as if waiting for permission to open it.

"Well, I keep thinkin' about that night at the lake. It still don't sit right with me that I got angry at ya'll, especially over somethin' so silly as a book. So...there you go. They say ya should write about what you know anyway."

Apple Bloom looked apprehensive. She had after all promised never to read it.

"It's okay. Go on."

With trepidation, Apple Bloom carefully extracted from the bag a brown leather-bound notebook. She studied the cover, reading the red lettering written in her sister's familiar scrawl.

A Tale of Two Sisters,
By Applejack

"It ain't finished yet though, so don't go gettin' disappointed."

Apple Bloom simply clutched the book and held it close. She looked back up at Applejack.

"That's ok, sis. I think I can guess how it ends."