Now that the duo had become a trio, the trek up the mountainside was much easier. It was still slightly awkward though. No one said anything and the only sounds were those of hooves on rock and their grunts and sighs of exertion.
After nearly half an hour, they pulled themselves up onto a semi summit. Big Macintosh managed to untangle himself from the others, stating "I can carry myself the rest of the way." as he held his injured hoof off the ground several inches.
The semi summit was almost completely covered in a large amount of trees, except for the small patch of open grass the three companions stood on.
Big Macintosh limped to the edge of the trees before turning to the two mares, still standing on the edge of the semi summit, before saying "This way." and disappearing into the trees. Isabella and Tentra glanced at each other, then walked up to the tree line and pushed themselves into it.
The trees where not forgiving and tugged and pulled on Isabella's mane and tail. Tentra, not really having any hair, was busy try to keep he wings from being torn. Several times, the two mares had to help untangle the other from a particularly stubborn bit of tree. This began to happen so often, that the two started to walk pressed against each other in an attempt to keep as far from the branches as possible.
After what seemed like eons, they broke out of the trees in unison, covered in sap, twigs, and leaves. They had no time to think about this though, because when they came out of the trees, what they saw shocked them so thoroughly that their jaws fell open.
Standing in front of them, was a two story cottage. The siding was made of maple wood, each piece sanded and coated with a light golden finish, making them glisten wonderfully in the afternoon sunlight. The roof was made of hard wood shingles, everyone of them settling together neatly, making certain not a single drop of rain would ever be able to squeeze through. A tall brick chimney stood up from the left side, tapering gently near the top. It had obviously been put together with painstakingly good care, for none of the bricks were out of place. The windows had been put together fabulously with iron wiring, making wonderful patterns that swirled and streaked across the glass.
But the most eye grabbing thing about the cottage, was the door.
It was made from a heavy, but gorgeous, piece of cherry wood and was almost the same color as Big Macintosh. There was a scene hoof carved on the front. The artist had clearly been a master carpenter and the design was impeccable. The carving depicted two ponies standing together on a hill, both of them earth ponies. All around them were trees and bushes and even some woodland creatures, forming the shape of a heart, and directly above them was the sun, Its rays shining down around the two.
The door's handle was also very intricate. It was made of brass, and seemed to be shaped like a dragon. Each scale shone out individually and the tail stood out as the main piece to the handle.
Isabella and Tentra would have stood there in shock forever if Big Macintosh hadn't appeared next to them and said with a chuckle "Y'all wanna step inside?"
The mares nodded in agreement, still too dumbstruck to speak.
Big Macintosh limped ahead of them and opened the door for them. Both of the mares stepped in and looked around. The first room seemed to be a lounging room. There were velvet cushions and two different couches. The fireplace was right next to one of the couches, but it looked like there had not been a fire in it for several months. To the right of the door stood the stairwell that led to the second floor and straight forward, through the lounging room, was what looked like a kitchen.
Big Macintosh limped past them and sat down on the couch closest to the fireplace and sighed.
Isabella and Tentra stood there for a moment before Big Macintosh laughed and said "Sit down and relax. We're here. Ain't no one gonna find us no how."
Isabella closed the door with one of her back legs as Tentra took the couch opposite Big Macintosh, leaving Isabella to use the cushions, which she spread over the ground next to Big Macintosh's couch, creating a makeshift seat for herself.
Tentra was still gazing around the cottage in awe when Isabella asked "Macintosh? Who built this place?"
"This place was built up by ma folks bout thirty years ago. Just after they was married and when Granny Smith didn't have a bad hip. Ma and Pa always wanted a place far away from everypony for special occasions. Me and Applejack were born up here." said Big Macintosh, a smile on his face.
Isabella thought for a second then, as she looked back at Big Macintosh and posed another question.
"Where are your parents, Macintosh?"
Big Macintosh's smile slid off his face and he looked down.
"Oh...I... I'm sorry Macintosh. I didn't....." Isabella trailed off, blushing furiously and feeling like a complete idiot. Tentra blinked a few times, obviously not understanding the situation.
After several moments silence, Big Macintosh sighed heavily and said "Ah might as well tell y'all how it happened."
"How what happened?" asked Tentra, still not catching onto the the mood of the room. Isabella shook her head at Tentra, but Big Macintosh spoke up.
"Isabella, Don't you remember what yer sister said? She was more a spawn than a child. She doesn't understand what it's like to have parents."
"Oh." sighed Isabella as she face hoofed herself. Once again, she felt like an idiot.
"Anyways. Tentra, Ah'm gonna tell y'all why me and my sisters live with our granny, rather than our parents." stated Big Macintosh as he got into a more comfortable position.
"Big Mac! Are you ready yet ya rascal?!" Called Albermarle.
Albermarle was a huge stallion with a bright red coat, a long green mane and tail, and his eyes were a mix of red and yellow, just like his mother's. He also had a bushy mustache and a small pointed beard, both of which matched his mane and tail.
He was standing next to a carriage that he intended on using to carry his pregnant wife, Almata, to the hospital with. He was still looking about when Almata walked up to him, helped by Granny Smith and a tiny bouncing Applejack.
Almata had a lovely yellow coat and a long straight mane and tail that shone a wonderful red. Her eyes glittered with a violent emerald green, just like her daughter Applejack. Despite all this, she still managed to look sickly, but happy.
"Can't find him?" she asked, her Canterlotian accent very different from that of the rest of her family's.
"Ah'll be derned if Ah can ever find that boy when Ah need him. Ah told him Ah wanted him to come with us when it was time for the baby to come." growled Albermarle, looking under the carriage again.
"Don't worry dear. He'll....mph... turn up." said Almata, flinching slightly as the child inside her kicked.
Albermarle put his foreleg around his wife's shoulders.
"Weather he does or not , we have to go soon. The baby won't wait much longer." he said, throwing another desperate glance about.
"Oh for cryin' out loud!" bellowed Granny Smith before she bit down on her bottom lip and let out a sharp whistle that echoed through the entire orchard.
Almost instantaneously, Big Macintosh appeared next to the small group, leaves and twigs stuck in his mane and tail and his hooves covered in dust and a sheepish grin spread across his face.
"Where in Equestria have you been young man?!" scolded Albermarle, "Yer mother is almost due and we have to...!"
Albermarle trailed off as Almata put a hoof on his shoulder.
"It's fine dear. Big Macintosh," she said as she turned, smiling, at her eldest child, "Let go bring your new baby sister into this world."
Big Macintosh grinned and bounded into the back of the cart. He was still pretty small but big enough to help his mother up.
As Albermarle hitched himself up and Granny Smith and Big Macintosh helped Almata into the carriage, little Applejack sat nearby and whined "It just ain't fair. Ah wanna go with y'all and help bring little sis into the world."
"Now now, half pint. You gotta stick around so that Ah don't fall over or get stuck or nothing like that, ya hear?" said Granny Smith, giving a quick wink to Big Macintosh.
Applejack sighed and nodded as Granny Smith walked over to her and began to wave goodbye to the now retreating carriage.
Several minutes later found Big Macintosh sitting next to his mother spouting questions while Albermarle continued to march along the road into Ponyville.
"What's her name gonna be?" Big Macintosh asked, his head resting against his mother's belly as if he was listening for his soon to be sister.
Albermarle chuckled said "We already went over this Big Macintosh. Her name will be Applebloom."
"Do ya think she'll have green eyes like mamma, or yellow 'n red like yers pa?"
Both the adults laughed.
"Hush now, Big Macintosh. We don't know anymore about your new sister than you do. We'll just have to wait and....ah!"
Almata stopped mid sentence and gasp in pain.
Albermarle's head whipped around so fast, he cricked his neck.
"Are you okay dear?"
"It's nothing. I'm fi- Oh!"
"Mamma? Why are you all wet?"
"Her water broke! We gotta get her to the hospital now!" bellow Albermarle. He slammed his hooves into the ground and set off at a heavy gallop.
Big Macintosh clung to his mother, and looking up at her, smiled as he said "It's okay mamma. Pa'll get us there in no time."
Almata spared her eldest child a smile before she began concentrating on breathing.
The moment they arrived at the hospital, orderlies rushed out, lifted her down from the carriage, and rushed her inside. Big Macintosh jumped out of the carriage and helped his father unhitch himself. Together they dashed inside after Almata. When they entered the birthing ward, orderlies swarmed them, spraying them down, covering them with gowns, booties on their hooves, and mane nets, before hustling them into the room where Almata was.
Big Macintosh was rather confused as to why they had his mother is such an odd position. Her legs were help up and apart in large stirrups and a blanket covered her belly.
Big Macintosh followed his father to his mothers side. She was breathing in and out heavily, pushing when she was prompted to by the nurses. Big Macintosh put his hooves up on the side of the bed and asked "You'll be alright, won't ya mama?" as Albermarle took her hoof and encouraged her breathing.
Hours passed, but not much was happening. Albermarle continued to urge his wife on, the nurses kept giving Almata the cue, and the doctor simply sat down at the far end of the bed, waiting for the baby.
Big Macintosh was incredibly bored. He had taken to pawing at the floor and was making mental pictures on the ground when it started.
"I can see the head Mrs. Apple! Keep pushing!" shouted the doctor, bringing his hooves up to help bring the child into the world. Almata gasped and groaned in pain, but continued to push.
She looked awful. He mane was plastered to her body with sweat, and her eyes were red and tired. She clung to her husband's hoof as if her life depended on it.
She began to scream in pain as she continued to push, and the doctor said "That's good! She's almost......Here!"
A small cry came from the doctor's hoofs and he cut the umbilical cord. He handed the child to the nurses as Almata screamed again.
"Get the baby and the young colt out of here!" ordered the doctor
Before he knew it, Big Macintosh was being ushered out of the room against his will. He tried desperately to get back to his mother and father, but the nurse was stronger than he was. The last thing he saw before the doors closed was his father trying to wake his mother up and the doctor was injecting her with something.
Big Macintosh had been in the waiting room for nearly an hour now and was pacing furiously. He didn't know what had happened or what was taking so long. A runner pony had been been dispatched only minutes after Big Macintosh had been taken from the operating room, and about half an hour later, Granny Smith and Applejack arrived at the hospital, worried looks on their faces. Big Macintosh asked them, but the messenger hadn't told them anything, he just told them they were needed at the hospital.
"Why don't you sit down, young'un? You'll wear a groove in the floor from pacing like that." said Granny Smith, pointing to the the already indented floor.
"How can y'all just sit there?! Mama's in pain! Ah wanna help!" yelled Big Macintosh.
Granny Smith looked down at the floor but Applejack spoke up "But they told us that they have experts helping her. She'll be fine....won't she?"
She turned to Granny Smith as she said the last part. Granny Smith merely sighed and shook her head.
"Ah don't know little ones. Ah just hope she's okay."
Another half hour later, a nurse appeared and said "Mrs. Apple?"
Granny Smith picked herself up and waddled over to the nurse who whispered something to her and led her into a nearby room, leaving Big Macintosh and Applejack alone in the waiting room.
Several more minutes passed, when Granny Smith reappeared, carrying a small bundle. Big Macintosh and Applejack watched her as she came back and sat down next to Applejack. Big Macintosh came over to investigate the bundle as Granny Smith crooned to it.
In the blanket was a tiny filly, with a beautiful coat and mane, just like Big Macintosh's mother's and eyes just like his father's. Big Macintosh stared at his new baby sister for a moment, then looked back up Granny Smith and asked "Where's mama and pa?"
Granny Smith sighed, tears swimming in her eyes, but her expression was unreadable.
"Lil ones. Yer ma and pa have........passed on."
Big Macintosh said nothing but slumped slightly, his face expressionless. Applejack blinked several times, then asked "W-what do ya mean, passed on? How's that possible?"
A single tear rolled down her withered old cheek as Granny Smith took a deep breath and continued.
"When yer lil sister was born, something went wrong inside your ma. The doctors and yer pa tried to save her, but......." she trailed off and shook her head.
"..............What about pa?" asked Big Macintosh, his face still the same.
"When yer ma passed, the doctors said he seemed to become deathly ill. His heart seemed to have broken. They tried to help him, but no matter what they did......he didn't recover."
Once again, the three were completely silent. Applejack was crying quietly, tears pouring down her face. Granny Smith had her eyes closed, but tears were still seeping out from under her eye lids.
Big Macintosh sat, completely motionless, but finally said "Can I hold her? Can I hold.....Applebloom?"
Granny Smith opened her eyes and smiled at him, before handing Applebloom to him.
Big Macintosh took the small bundle from Granny Smith and held her close.
Little baby Applebloom blinked and looked up at Big Macintosh. She looked just like his ma, except for her eyes. They were his pa's eyes.
Big Macintosh held Applebloom close to his chest and wept.
Isabella and Tentra were speechless. Both had tears in their eyes, even if Tetra didn't know what it was like to have a family, she still understood the pain Big Macintosh had felt so long ago.
Big Macintosh sighed, sniffed and then smiled at the two mares.
"That's my story." he finished, with a slight air of never having told that story to any pony.
It was quiet. The only sound was the sound of birds outside and the occasional sniff from one of the three ponies. It felt like breaking the silence would be a sin after hearing such a story.
Finally, Isabella stood up and wrapped her hooves around Big Macintosh's neck. She held him for several minutes before whispering "I'm sorry."
She felt him embrace her back then let her go. She let go as well and stepped back. Big Macintosh smiled at her before he spoke.
"Well, let's stop dwellin' on the past and get to work. This house ain't gonna clean it's self up."