Applejack sobbed into the blanket. Big Mac's breaths were growing slower by the minute.
"Big Mac, please don't go... we need you..." she cried.
Apple Bloom arrived with a medic pony. They were carrying a wagon to put Big Mac on. Granny helped put him on and Applejack and Apple Bloom watched as the wagon drove away.
Apple Bloom clung to her sister's leg.
"What's goin' on, Applejack?" she asked, tears falling from her face.
"Big Mac... is in trouble..."
Apple Bloom stared blankly out into the horizon. She would never forget the sight of her brother.
Applejack and Apple Bloom went inside and went ahead and went to bed.
---
Apple Bloom tossed and turned. She couldn't stop moving. After a while, she woke up screaming.
Applejack rushed into her room since granny was away at the Insta Care with her brother.
"Is everything okay?" she asked, anxious for her sisters safety.
After a quick look around the room to make sure everything was okay, Applejack saw Apple Bloom crying into her pillow. She walked up to her sister's bed and held her close to her chest, something that her mother always did to her to make her feel better. Applejack knew her sister saw Big Mac, which was probably the reason she was in this state. Apple Bloom lay there sobbing into her chest.
Applejack laid herself next to her sister and held her closer. She gently stroked Apple Bloom's mane as she fell asleep.
---
Applejack laid with her sister. She did not get much sleep from the night before thanks to the fact that Apple Bloom would occasionally wake up frightened. But she was happy to help her little sister.
Apple Bloom opened her eyes and yawned. She looked at her sister and smiled.
"Morning." she mumbled.
"Morning." Applejack smiled. She tickled her sister and receiving a giggle from her in return.
"When is granny coming back?" Apple Bloom asked.
"She should be back by lunch, I think."
After a few hours they heard the door open downstairs. They walked down to greet their granny and gave her hugs. They didn't notice the look on her face.
"How's Big Mac doin'?" Applejack asked.
Granny pulled her grandfillies close and hugged them as tears fell from her face.
"He's hurt real bad." she said quietly.
Applejack hugged her granny close. She was tired of having her family always getting hurt.
---
It would be about 5 months till they could have their brother return to the farm...
Apple Bloom didn't want to sleep alone. So Applejack slept alongside her. Applejack didn't mind, she didn't want to be alone either. Most nights Applejack would wake up in a panic thinking that Apple Bloom or Granny would be gone, but she knew Granny would be able to take care of herself and would always find Apple Bloom at her side.
Most nights when this would happen, Applejack would cry herself to sleep. Granny would always check in with her and would find her pillow wet. She would replace it with another dry one.
Applejack often worked in the fields with her sister since Big Mac was gone and there was lots of work to be done. Apple Bloom would frequently buck to far from the tree or an apple would fall on her head.
Applejack just broke down with frustration most of the time. One day, she took it out on her sister.
"I wish that you never went out too far!" she yelled. "Big Mac would still be here if you didn't go out!"
Applejack's words stung for the little filly, she had never been yelled at like that. Applejack realized what she had done.
"Apple Bloom, I didn't mean that." she reached out her hoof, trying to stroke her mane, but Apple Bloom turned away running into the house, tears falling from her face.
Applejack fell to the ground, sobbing.
'Applejack, why do you always say the wrong things?' she asked herself.
Granny walked up to her and put her hoof on her shoulder. She looked up to her Grandmare and Granny looked back at her. Applejack jumped off the ground, pounced onto her and hugged her sobbing.
"Why do I always say the wrong things?" she sobbed. "Why, Granny?"
Granny Smith stroked her mane and held her close.
"We all make mistakes, Applejack. There is a way for you to fix this one."
---
Apple Bloom laid out on her bed sobbing. There was a knock on her door.
"GO AWAY!" she yelled.
"Apple Bloom, someone would like to talk to you." Granny told her, opening the door.
Applejack stared at her sister, still crying into her pillow. She walked into her room as Granny shut the door. Applejack sat herself next to Apple Bloom.
She made no sign that she even recognized her presence and continue to sob.
"Apple Bloom, I didn't mean what I said." Applejack uttered after a short pause. "I've just been so stressed with all the farm work and since Big Mac isn't here, it's been difficult. I am really sorry."
Apple Bloom sobbed into her pillow.
"You're just sayin' that!"
"No, I'm not. I really am sorry." Applejack broke down into tears. "I am sorry, I shouldn't of taken it out on ya'. I'm really sorry.... and, I want you to know that I will always love you. No matter what. If you want to hate me for the rest of my life, go ahead. I don't care. I deserve it 'cus I've been a terrible sister. You're my baby sister, and I will always love you. I'm sorry."
Applejack cried more in that moment more than she ever had in her entire life.
Apple Bloom didn't move. Applejack sobbed into her hooves, giving up. She felt something thump against her. She turned to look.
Apple Bloom hugged her tightly, sobbing into her coat.
"I'm sorry too, Applejack. I love ya too. I just really miss Big Mac and want our family to stop having all these problems." She cried.
Applejack hugged her back before kissing her forehead and crying with her.
"You know what, Apple Bloom?"
"Hmm?"
"I've gotta thank ya for running out too far."
Apple Bloom looked at her sister confused.
"You saved my life." Applejack stared right into her sister's eyes. "I was to the point that I missed Ma and Pa so much, I didn't want to move on. You saved my life Apple Bloom." Applejack smiled.
Apple Bloom smiled back at her sister.
---
It had been a long five months, but Big Mac had finally returned home.
Granny went to go and pick him up. When they arrived back at Sweet Apple Acres, he saw that the trees were not finished. Applejack and Apple Bloom were in their room resting from working so hard. Quickly coming to a decision, Big Mac walked into the barn and went to grab his yoke. But before he could lift it up, Granny put her hoof on top of it. Big Mac looked at her.
"I need to get to work, Granny. We're behind in our farm work." he said, trying to get the yoke out of her grasp.
"You need to rest." Granny said. "You are still healing from the attack. You need to take it easy for a few weeks."
"I'm fine, Granny! I can work now!"
"You need to rest!"
"Granny, I'm fine! I can do this!" He grabbed the yoke, putting it on and walking out of the barn.
"Now that's enough!" Granny yelled. She grabbed him by the hoof.
Big Mac stared at Granny with a glare in his eye. He flung her hoof off of him, taking off the yoke and throwing it in frustration.
"There is work to be done, Granny. Applejack and Apple Bloom can't do it on their own."
"You will not do anything to help the farm until you are healed. That is final."
Big Mac let out a grunt of frustration and ran out of the barn, straight into his room. Granny could hear the door slam. She sighed shaking her head.
"Why is that colt always so stubborn...?" Granny mumbled.
---
There was a knock on Big Mac's door.
"Big Mac? I was wondering if I could talk to you." Applejack asked behind the door. She opened it after hearing Big Mac telling her to come in.
She sat next to her brother.
"Sorry Apple Bloom and I couldn't get the work done as fast as you do, but I just wanted you to know that I'm happy you're okay." She gave her brother a hug.
The room was silent for a moment.
"I could hear you fighting with Granny."
Big Mac looked at his sister. "Really...?" he asked.
"I was nearby. I don't want to fight with you, but I want you to know that Granny is right. Apple Bloom and I got this."
With a final look, Applejack got off the bed and left the room. Big Mac stared at the old picture of his parents with his family the day before their death.
It didn't take long for Big Mac to run to the door and slam it open.
"Applejack?" He called, hoping she hadn't already gone.
Applejack, who had just reached the end of the hallway, turned around at the mention of her name. Big Mac gave her a smile.
"Thank ya." he said. "For the talk."
Applejack smiled and turned around to get back to the work.
A small tear fell from Big Mac's eye.
My lil' sister is growin' up... Big Mac thought.