We all love a tale of forbidden love right? I know I sure do. It has an allure to it that few can resist. We've seen these kind of stories since story telling began, which is a long time. Now they all have their difference and similarities and we all have a favorite. Now let Brushy Bill tell you one he knows about.
We begin our story in our favorite place, Ponyville. It is late Winter just before Spring. Winter wrap up is in full swing and the town is a bustle with busy ponies. None more busy than the Apple family. It was getting close to the planting season and everypony was there to help. Applejack had delegated a job for each of her friends. Rainbow Dash was clearing the snow so Big Mac could begin the plowing, tilling and disking. Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applebloom were ahead of Big Mac making sure there were no critter burrows along the plow lines. Pinkie Pie was helping Granny Smith gather the Spring tools in the barn. Applejack and Twilight were doing rounds to each group making everything was on schedule.
"I appreciate y'all's help," Applejack smiled at Twilight as they approached the barn.
"No problem Applejack! It is our pleasure," Twilight looked over and saw across the way, a pony pulling out a for sale sign. "Hm looks like you have new neighbors." She gestured towards the pony. Applejack turned and saw the pony walking away with the sign.
"Well shoot, bout time. That place has been for sale for ever." She returned her attention to the barn and entered.
"Hey Granny, we got new neighbors. We should bake them a pie once they're settled."
"Eh?" The old mare looked out the barn door. "Well bust my bushel, someone finally bought it. Why I remember, eh uh I remember, something..." Granny Smith paused for a second. "Ah heck wasn't important anyway," she shook her head and went back into the barn. "No time anyway, get yer caboose in gear little missy we got our own moving to do." Applejack nodded and the two made their way to field where the rest were.
"Hey Big sis! You see the for sale sign is gone?" Applebloom hollered.
"Yeah, I wonder who bought it?" She questioned. Big Mac stopped pulling his plow and looked over towards the old farm. Off in the distance he could see two ponies milling about but couldn't make out much. For a second he thought he caught a glimpse of a red mane, but wasn't sure. His focus was interrupted by Rainbow Dash.
"Come on you slow poke! I'm already 3 rows ahead of you!" The red stallion huffed and returned to rows.
After a weeks worth of effort from everyone, Sweet Apple Acres was fully prepped for the arrival of Spring. To thank everypony, the Apples had a dinner using the rest of their canned apples from the winter. Applebloom was helping Granny in the kitchen and she brought out the last jar.
"Hold on there missy. Put that one over there. I'm saving those for a pie for the new neighbors." Applejack walked into the kitchen, Big Mac right behind.
"Innit a bit odd that they've been there a week and we haven't seen hide nor tail of em?"
"Yup," Big Mac nodded.
"I thought you said you had seen them Big Mac." Applebloom pointed out. Her brother thought for a second.
"From a distance I saw two ponies working round the house. One of them may have had a red mane." He shrugged his shoulders.
"We'll meet them once I bring my pie to them." Granny pulled two pies from the oven for the dinner. The smell left the oven and could've lifted the largest stallion off their hooves in a cartoonish fashion.
"Smells wonderful as always Granny," he smiled and left out the kitchen door.
"Where's he off too?" Applebloom questioned looking out the window.
"Oh you know our brother, not the best round other ponies. He's probably off to mentally prepare himself for tonight. Best let him be." Applejack walked towards the counter. "Lets finish up dinner."
Big Mac slowly made his way through the orchard, trudging through the mud produced by the freshly melted snow. He eventually reached a tall hill towards the back of the property. It had no snow or mud on it. Just brown dead grass with a few green blades popping here and there signifying Spring was taking hold. He climbed the hill where at the top sat a grand cotton wood tree. Around the base of the tree, where its roots stretched out, was the perfect sittin spot. For those who don't know, sittin spots are something that every farmer chooses. It's a place for contemplation, reflection, decompression, and the occasional nap.
Big Mac sat in his spot and looked out over the farm. He sighed deeply. The oncoming dinner had got his mind wired; his biggest issue would be putting up with the social aspect, but also the noise.
"They're just so loud when they get all together." He sighed again. Looking over the farm he was also able to see the old farm. Again he saw to ponies working around the house. He squinted to try and get a better look. Big Mac could barley make out either but the two almost looked identical. A light colored coat with red mains and tails. Something was familiar about them but Big Mac couldn't quite put it together. The feeling of figuring it out was close but before he could reach the answer, the dinner bell rang out. It snapped Big Mac out of his thoughts and looked down towards the barn. Everyone was gather around the table. "Here we go."
As expected the dinner was loud but at least the food was good. After all plates were cleared and dishes done, Big Mac excused himself and went to his room. It was dark except for the moon beams shinning through his window. Slowly he walked towards the window and looked out. His window faced the old farm and he could see one room had light coming out of it. Big Mac opened the window and stuck his head out. Upon looking harder he could see the silhouette of a pony looking out the window. Though it was dark, he could feel that the pony had also noticed him. After staring for a second he raised his hoof and waved to the pony. The silhouette raised its hoof to waive but then slowly dropped it and ducked back in. Big Mac sat confused for a second and shrugged it off. "Maybe they're shy too." He walked offer to his bed a plopped down. It didn't take long for him to fall asleep. Little did Big Mac know how much his life would change in the coming days.
The rooster crowed in the early dawn waking up the entire Apple family. Big Mac slowly opened his eyes. There was a blue light peaking through his window with the sun just about to crest the mountains. He rolled over and looked up at the ceiling. There was a smell filling the house, a smell that was familiar. The stallion sat up fast and took another sniff. It was the smell of an apple pie. Not just any apple pie a completely home made one, crust and all. Big Mac opened his door at the same time as his sisters. All three peaked out into the hall way.
"That's the best smelling pie I think I've ever smelled." Applebloom bolted from her room to the kitchen, followed by her siblings. The three got to the kitchen just as Granny Smith was placing the pie on the table.
"Gosh Granny isn't it a might bit early for a pie?" Applejack questioned.
"What fool thing to say! Pie time is all the time. But never you mind, it ain't for us." Granny walked towards the window.
"For the neighbors?" Big Mac asked walking beside her.
"Yes sir-ree, gotta make a good impression," Granny Smith smiled, "Just gotta wait for the pie too cool and we'll head over."
The pie had cooled by later in the morning and the family became the little trek across the way. Applebloom was carrying the pie on her.
"I wonder what they're gonna be like. Are they city slickers trying to be trendy with a farm, are they an old couple who wanted to downsize, or is it a major farmer just buying more property or-" The pie almost fell off her head.
"Calm you horses young'en or you'll lose the welcome pie." Granny scolded. "We'll learn soon enough." As they approached they could see two ponies working in the old barn. Big Mac saw one of their tails, red with white highlights. It was familiar but again he couldn't quite place it. They family stopped right at the entrance of the barn.
"Hellooo in there," Granny Smith called, "Next door neighbors here to welcome you with a pie." They was a silent pause with no response. They could barley make out some whispering and then it stopped. Two ponies slowly crept out of the barn. Appleblooms jaw dropped along with the pie from her head. Standing before the Apples were the Flim Flam Brothers. They gave a sheepish smile.
"He-" Flam cleared his throat "Hello Apple family." He smiled nervously.
"What are you doing here!?" Applejack shouted alarmed that her new neighbors were here families long time rival.
"Uh well, we bought this farm." Flim smiled nervously.
"Uh huh and what scheme have you two cooked up this time?" Applebloom questioned. Flim and Flam waved their hooves frantically back and forth.
"No scheme friend Applebloom." Flam spoke fast.
"Yes, we're to simply farm and start a new life." Flim finished.
"Hmm I don't know how much I believe that." Granny Smith squinted her eyes at the two brothers.
"Yeah just when we just starting to forget you, here you come again and waltzing in all innocent hoping we drop our suspicions so you can what?" Applejack questioned.
"Honest truth Apples, we have no schemes." Flam was still frantic. During the whole exchange Big Mac had remained silent and observed the two brothers. They weren't wearing their showmanship clothes with hats, they looked pretty plain, like they actually just want to farm. He looked inside the barn and saw materials and tools to fix it up. He then looked over to the house and fields. the house was newly painted and the field had wagons full of seeds ready to be planted. It seemed like they were totally dedicated. The most convincing part was the fact that Flim and Flam were always trying to make an easy quick bit, but this looked far from easy and quick.
Big Mac returned his attention to the tense conversation. He had been so deep in thought he hadn't noticed Applejack talking to him.
"Right Big Mac?" his sister questioned him. He didn't here the first part and he looked back and forth between Applejack and the brothers.
"Uh," was all he could get out before she started again.
"See even Big Mac agrees. Come on family lets get out of here." Granny Smith and Applebloom turned to follow her. Granny Smith grabbed her pie tin from the ground.
"I can't believe I used my good tin for this." The three walked away, leaving Big Mac confused with Flim and Flam. He looked at the pie on the ground, then to the brothers, to his family and back to the brothers. He smiled shyly and they smiled weakly at him. Big Mac could only say,
"Sorry," before following his family.
Back at the Apple Family home
"Can you believe them? They actually want us to believe they are just farming?" Applekjack was pacing back and forth in the family room. The rest of the family was seated listening to her rant. "After all they have done they expect us to just welcome them?"
"I don't know Applejack, they seemed pretty honest." Big Mac spoke up. He hadn't spoken since going to seem Flim and Flam causing the whole family to turn quickly to him.
"You want to talk to ME about honesty?" Applejack questioned.
"Well, its just, while y'all were arguing, I was looking around and it seemed like they were putting some pretty significant effort into fixing the place up. They barns interior looked good and the house was painted and-" Applejack cut him off.
"Big Mac, its the Flim Flam brothers. It's just another scheme." Big Mac looked down.
"No use fussing Applejack, can't do anything till they do." Granny Smith got up from her chair. "Now come on y'all don't let this distract from our daily chores. Off to it." Granny shooed them all outside.
Big Mac went about his daily chores but couldn't get his mind off the brothers. There was a different feeling to them and his family treated them terribly. Sure Flim and Flam had tried to take their farm on more than one occasion, but something was definitely different this time. The day passed and Big Mac found himself staring out his bedroom window once again. He saw the silhouette of Flim and Flam moving around the house. He still felt terrible about that morning. Big Mac looked over to his shelf where a jar of preserved apples was sitting. It was his special jar. It was the last one from the winter and he usually saved it until the firs apples of the year appeared on the tree. An idea popped into his head and he grabbed the jar and crept down the stairs.
There was no rooster at the Flim Flam Brother's farm, yet Flim was awake at dawn to begin working on the farm. They had made a lot of progress but there was still a lot of work ahead of him. He walked out the front door and was surprised to see a large red stallion making his way up the road. Flim froze, worried about what was going to happen. Big Mac slowly approached and stopped in front of him.
"Mornin." He said in his deep voice.
"M-morning friend. " Flim smiled nervously and cleared his throat "What can I do for you neighbor?" Big Mac shook his head and reached into his saddle bag. Flim was freaking out mentally. 'Oh sweet Celestia, please don't let him pull out a pitch fork or something.' To his surprise Big Mac pulled out a pie and presented it to him. Flim slowly took the pie.
"I want to apologize for my family's behavior yesterday morning." He gestured to the pie, "It probably ain't as good as Granny's but it's something. " Flim was stunned, he couldn't believe the kindness Big Mac was showing him.
"Well, thank you Macintosh, I appreciate it." Flim genuinely smiled.
"You can call be Big Mac, that's what my friends call me." Big Mac genuinely smiled back. There was something there between the two stallions. Something that only time could tell, would change the two families lives.