Rose Luck shuddered unintentionally against the cold air blowing in through the broken windows of the kitchen. Pipsqueak did the same, and Applejack looked up from the small stove sympathetically.
"Rose? Can y'all watch this fer a min? Ah'll be ri' back," she added, already on her way down the hall. Passing Granny Smith's room, she opened a closet, grabbing two blankets in her jaws and sauntering back towards Rose Luck and Pipsqueak. "Here y'all are," she exclaimed, thrusting a blanket towards the two of them.
"Thank ya kindly, miss!" exclaimed Pip, wrapping a hoof around Applejack.
"It's nothin'," replied Applejack, turning off the stove. Opening the closet, she pulled out a small jar, filled with a brownish red powder. Sprinkling a bit across the pot, she stirred it once more before setting it onto the counter. Wincing away from the heat in her jaws, she blew cold air through her mouth, cooling down the slight burn on her tongue. Withdrawing two cracked bowls from the cupboard, she ladled generous amounts of the applesauce into them, then presented them to the two guests grandly. Without warning, the front door slammed, and Apple Bloom ran in.
"Sis! Sis!" she exclaimed between her gasps for air.
"What is it, 'Bloom?"
"They're here! Lookin' for Pip!" she exclaimed, her mane a frizzy mess.
"For Pip?" repeated Applejack.
"Tha's wha they said," replied Apple Bloom with a slight scowl.
"Pip? Follow me. Now," she added, her voice taking on a seldom-heard tone of seriousness.
"Alrighty then miss," chirped Pip, leaping from his chair and grabbing his applesauce. Applejack began running back past the closet, then out the back door, darting towards the barn. Opening the door, Pip ran straight in, stopping once he hit a pile of hay. Applejack silently led him down a set of concrete steps, then approached a heavy door. Pulling it open with a tired grunt, she ushered Pip in.
"Either Apple Bloom or I will come get ya. Don' open this up fer anypony else, understood?"
"Yes miss," saluted Pip, sitting down on the thin bed located in the vault. Applejack quickly shut the door, then ran back into the house.
"What's happening, Applejack?" inquired Rose Luck, her eyes wide.
"Ah'll tell y'all once They're gone. 'Til then, y'all can' say a thing 'bout Pip bein' here, 'kay?"
"Okay, Applejack," consented Rose Luck, resuming her meal. Applejack quickly served up a bowl for Apple Bloom and herself, then sat down. Her stomach was churning too much for her to eat, so she instead stared, absorbing the intriguing textures of the food.
What if they hurt one of us? What if they hurt that poor little Silver Spoon? Or that filly the adopted, Diamond Tiara? What if they take Sparkler, or Miss Hooves? At least the farm is safe, with the shield Celestia herself set up, she comforted herself. Her thoughts were interrupted by a rough knocking in the distance. Applejack and Apple Bloom shared a glance, then Applejack sighed.
"Ah'll get it," she declared. "Y'all stay here, and don' look ou' none o' them windows," she cautioned, then left the house. The cold winds whistled and howled, warning her to stay back as she fought them towards the gate. Pulling it open, she stepped out, greeted by one of them.
They were tall and slender, similar to the shape of an alicorn. Their bodies were all painted a pale grey, decorated with ominous signs of darker grey. They carried no mane nor tail, and their eyes were a bright yellow, glowing through the night. They had six legs, thinner than the rest of their bodies. Sharp spikes threatened to protrude from any of the many holes covering their body. Applejack suppressed the temptation to shudder at the sight of them, instead looking them straight in the eyes.
"We are here for a young male pony," he enunciated, his voice seeming to slither through the air. "We have heard his name is Pipsqueak. We wish him to rejoin his mother and father," he continued, and this time, Applejack did shudder.
"Mah apologies, mista. The Pip boy was 'ere, bu' he left earlier t'day. May I help you wi' anythin' else?"
"Are you sure he isn't here? We are told to offer a ten thousand bit reward," he added, and Applejack was now attempting not to snicker.
Ten thousand bits? Like we ca' even use money in these times, she thoughts, thankful for her ability to keep a straight face. "Ah'm sorry sir. Bes' o' luck findin' the rascal though!" she exclaimed.
"Very well then miss. Have a good evening," the thing said, turning to walk away. Applejack waited for them to leave before reentering the safe area, running towards the barn. She stomped down the stairs, then banged on the door.
"Pip! It's me!" she called, and she heard the bed creak before he pushed the door open.
"Miss Jack!" he cried, hugging her again.
"Come 'long now," she said with a smile, leading him back inside. "Rose Luck?" she asked as she spotted the mare, rubbing her belly tenderly.
"Yes, Applejack?"
"Can ya come alon' wit' me?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.
"Of course," agreed Rose Luck, jumping up and walking into the hall. "What do you need?"
"It's Pip's parents. They're gone," said Applejack plainly.
"Are you sure?"
"Very. We can' le' Pip know, 'kay?"
"Of course, Applejack," agreed the mare, shifting her gaze to the ground. "I wouldn't dream of telling him."
"Thank ya," replied Applejack appreciatively, before trotting back to the kitchen, where Pip and Apple Bloom were talking to each other. "Hey you two," she called, and the two leaped apart from each other, as if they were two foals with their hooves in the cookie jar.
"Yes sis?"
"I's bedtime. Git along now, y'hear?"
"Fine," grumbled Apple Bloom, stomping up the stairs with Pip at her tail. She turned to enter her room, just in time to see Pip turning into the room next to hers.
"Well look a' tha', Miss Bloom!"
"Looks like we're nex' ta each other," said Apple Bloom, a faint smile at the edges of her mouth.
"Looks like it," he agreed and the two entered their rooms.