//------------------------------//
// Blood On My Hooves 
// Story: Rotten Apple 
// by Princess Lyla 
//------------------------------//

	"Big Mac, have you seen Braeburn? I need to ask him something." Applejack asked her brother.
Big Macintosh hesitated, then said, "Nope." He could not bring himself to say any more. AJ might've been vague on what she needed to talk to Braeburn for, but Big Mac could tell what she had said was a lie.
"Oh, okay." The orange mare walked away, leaving Mac alone. Or at least, he seemed to be alone.
"Is she gone?" a stallion's voice asked from a group of bushes.
"Eyup, she's gone."
"Good." With a shake, the leaves parted to allow Braeburn to climb out from his hiding spot. "Big Mac, can I tell you a secret?"
"Brae, you know I'm terrible at keeping secrets!"
"Please! I would tell AJ, but I don't think she's going to want to help me after what I've done." Braeburn looked away, trying to hide the tears running down his face.
Big Mac couldn't stand to see his cousin so upset. Flim might be dead, but that doesn't mean Braeburn didn't deserve forgiveness. "I can't make any promises, but if it means this much to you, I'll try not to tell anypony."
Brae took a deep breath. "Ever since AJ and her friends came to drop off Bloomberg, I've been getting these strange nightmares. Every time, I eventually look into a mirror or a puddle, but my reflection doesn't copy my movements. It's like it has a mind of it's own, which, I think it does. You see, last night was the same as always, but this time, it wasn't a reflection. there was a whole other pony staring at me. He looked like me, but a different mane, and this pony had fangs." he looked at his bedroom window, then back to his older cousin. "He's been visiting me during the day too. I've been trying to ignore him, but no matter what I do, he just won't leave me alone!"
"Brae," Big Mac knelt down to look into Braeburn's eyes. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Well, I guess I just thought you would assume  I was crazy. Besides, it wasn't really a problem until now."