//------------------------------// // Big Red // Story: Core of the Apple // by Outlaw Quadrant //------------------------------// By the following morning, the ranch was back down to only three members of the Apple Family. When Apple Bloom made the trek down the stairs to the dining room, she spotted her big brother setting the table, already adorned with a basket of bread and hay juice. She also saw an amber yellow stallion with a big red apple as his cutie mark stirring up broth in a container. Apple Bloom smiled at the expected sight, sans his cowboy hat. “Mornin’, Braeburn.” He turned around and flashed a grin. “Howdy little partner! You feelin’ a little better?” She scampered to the Appleloosan and squeezed him like a pillow. “I’ll be okay, cousin, thanks to you. Just needed to... talk...” The filly sniffled and wiped some dampness off her face. “Sorry, still feelin’ a little sad.” He tightened his hug and gave her a pat. “Like I told ya yesterday, it’s quite all right.” Braeburn then spotted Big Macintosh entering the room and motioned for him to come over. The three Apple members all joined in a quiet embrace, lasting for a minute until Apple Bloom moved her head, signaling the two stallions to separate. She chuckled, “Thanks. I’ve done enough cryin’ yesterday. Don’t think there’s any more water in my...” Apple Bloom surveyed the room and raised her concern. “Hey, where’s my big sister? She wasn’t in her room this mornin’.” Braeburn returned to the stove and switched it off before inspecting the cloudy world through the window beside him, seeing only the occasional small bird passing through the fields. “Bucking apples, I reckon.” Big Macintosh gazed through the clear glass above the sink, finding his sister far off in the distance, smacking a tree with her hind hooves. “Eeyup,” he said with a twinge of sadness. “She’s been doin’ that every day now,” said Apple Bloom, dropping her head. “Should I go out and git her so she can eat with us?” The yellow stallion breathed in deeply and slowly released the air, gathering his resolve. “Naw, cuz. Your big brother and I will take care of her, so don’t ya worry ‘bout it.” Big Macintosh grabbed some bowls from the cupboard and placed them neatly in a row by Braeburn. The Appleloosan poured some soup into each one before the red stallion brought them to the table. When the yellow pony walked past the window, he took a look-see and Applejack had disappeared from sight. He gestured to Big Macintosh, questioning whether to close the curtains, and had to wait a few seconds before receiving a hesitant head shake. At the same time, Apple Bloom glanced down, spotting a blend of carrot slices, corn kernels, potato bits, and other leafy greens within the brown broth. “Is this Granny’s vegetable soup recipe, Braeburn?” “That’s right, little partner.” He took a seat next to Big Macintosh. “Last time I saw her, I took one small sip of her soup and I just had to ask her for it. That kind ol’ mare gave it to me right before I returned to Appleloosa. I’ve been cookin’ it ever since, but I don’t think I could ever make it like Granny.” They all turned toward the doorway to gaze at a picture of Granny rocking in her then brand-new chair, bought for the mare after she hurt her hip bucking apples. All three ponies sighed in lamentation, but as the aroma of the soup dominated their senses, they felt the departed matriarch’s presence. Big Macintosh cleared his throat and closed his eyes for a few prepared words. “Granny, I know you’re lookin’ down on us from the big barn in the sky, but we also know that you’re in our hearts. We’ll always be sure to live up to the Apple family name.” He motioned towards the other two family members, and all dug into the soup. Apple Bloom smacked her lips. “Boy, howdy! Granny would be proud of you. This is de-licious!” “Eeyup!” Big Macintosh wholeheartedly replied. Braeburn blushed. “Aw, shucks. Comin’ from you two, that means a lot.” Breakfast continued on, with the bread basket going around, and Braeburn spilling some of the hay juice. The Appleloosan grabbed some napkins and pressed down on the mess. “Always the clumsy one,” Big Macintosh chuckled. Braeburn’s ears flattened as did his mouth. “Hey, now. I’ve been workin’ on it.” Later, Applebloom raised her head, widened her mouth, and released a short but gurgling belch. The filly received a scolding stare from her big brother and nervously laughed. “Oops. Sorry.” Finally, the youngest Apple member wiped her muzzle clean and stepped back from the table, rubbing her hoof on the floor. “Hey, big brother? You think I could meet up with my friends today?” “Eeyup” said Big Macintosh. “If you need to talk to us ‘gain, we’ll be here for ya.” The yellow filly gave a long hug to both her big brother and Braeburn before trotting toward the exit. “Make sure you thank ‘em too!” Big Macintosh hollered at his little sister. Apple Bloom stuck her head back into the dining room. “I will! Promise my sister will be okay!” “You got it!” interjected Braeburn, giving a confident nod. He heard the filly’s opening the front door. “Tough little cookie, isn’t she, Macintosh?” “Just like Granny,” said the red stallion, smiling. Both stallions cleared the table, throwing the used napkins away and placing the silverware into the sink. A turn of the knob made the water wash away some of the grime while both red and yellow hooves scrubbed the rest off. It was a quiet chore as both occasionally looked through the window, hoping for a glimpse of Applejack. Then, a recurring thought came into Braeburn’s mind, and he got Big Macintosh’s attention. “I’m mighty sorry again for coming so late. I—” “I understand, Braeburn.” He sighed. “Yeah, I know. It’s just that the annual negotiations between the Appleloosans and the Buffalo took a lot longer than I thought. The Buffalo requested a wider path to stampede through and the town folk demanded fewer pies in exchange. Glad they worked it out but by the time we got an agreement done, I missed my train.” Big Macintosh patted Braeburn on the back. “It’s the thought that matters. Glad you’re here to help.” “Of course, cousin. It’s the least I can do.” Braeburn then heard a faint cracking sound and peered through the window. Far off in the orchards, the orange mare continually struck a tree without any apples. “Bucking plain ol’ trees all by her lonesome. 'T ain't right to see my cousin Applejack like that. I wish she would have opened up to me when I saw her yesterday...” ***Start Flashback*** At the Sweet Apple Acres fields, Braeburn reached the top of a hill and spotted Applejack carrying a set of buckets full of apples. He scurried down to meet up with her. "Hey there, Cousin Applejack," said the smiling Braeburn. "Oh my gosh! Braeburn!" Applejack swung the buckets down, tossing a few apples onto the grass, and gave him a hard hug, knocking off his cowpony hat. "Sorry for being so late but I had some negotiations up in Appleloosa I had to be part of." “That’s all right. Glad to see ya again, cousin.” Applejack released the stallion and, with a heave, secured the load of apples on her back. Braeburn dusted off his hat and put it back on. “So, how are ya feelin’?” Her face writhed and the mare looked away. Applejack turned back, pulling the corners of her mouth up. “Just fine, thanks for askin’.” Braeburn blinked his eyes a few times, trying to comprehend his relative’s words. He then took a step forward, tilted his head, and displayed a welcoming smile. “Are you sure, cuz? You know, you can always talk to me about…” “Braeburn, I–” “…Granny. I know you think that it may be a waste of time but…” She raised her voice. “Braeburn!” “…sometimes, the only way to feel better is to let it out so that you can move on…” “BRAEBURN!” The cowpony maintained his friendly demeanor and raised an eyebrow. “Yes, cuz?” Applejack narrowed her sights. “You’ve been talkin’ to my brother, haven’t ya?” He put on an innocent face. “Well, yes. I saw him at the ranch and he only told me that I should…” She scampered away, leaving a trail of fallen apples behind her. “…talk…to ya.” ***End Flashback*** Braeburn shook his head. “Instead, she was worse than them buffalo. Um, no offense, cousin Macintosh.” “None taken.” Suddenly, an audible crack came from outside. The tree had enough of Applejack’s punishment and it fell to the ground with a dull crunch. Big Macintosh nudged Braeburn aside and stared at her sister in shock. In all his years, he had never seen her inflict that much frustration on a tree, but the stallion put that concern aside as Applejack turned toward him. She took several steps back, fearing repercussion, but her big brother mouthed out, It’s okay. The cowmare shook her head and retreated further into the horizon. The red stallion moved his hoof up and swept it backwards, begging for Applejack to come closer, saying “Please?” Instead, his sister’s face firmed up and she galloped away as a gust of wind stole her hat, and soon both vanished. Big Macintosh trembled as fierce emotions raged inside until one came out victorious, and his hoof struck the floorboards. He turned off the water and put the last of the silverware away. “This is going to end today. Braeburn, go and tell Noteworthy we’re followin’ the plan.” The cowpony gulped. “You… sure ‘bout that, cuz?” Big Macintosh sighed, releasing his pent-up anger. He imagined his sister hanging onto the edge of an emotional cliff and his large hoof reaching out, but no matter how hard he stretched, it wasn’t enough. His voice began to crack at the seams. “Braeburn, I have to take care of my little sister. Otherwise, I’m gonna lose her.” Braeburn gave him a pat. “All right, then.” He walked to the wall hook to retrieve his hat and again looked at Granny’s picture. This time, he placed a hoof on it and liberated a few trickles of mourning. “You think you’re doing the right thing, cousin Macintosh?” The big red stallion turned around and joined Braeburn in looking at the portrait, hoping it would give him some sort of divine guidance, but only heard his throbbing heart. He glanced back to the window, catching the hat floating above the horizon before it escaped his sight once again. "I hope so."