It’s a quiet night down on Sweet Apple Acres. It’d been a busy year for the Apples, but cider-making, cider-selling, and cider-cleaning-up-after this fall had just been wrapped up, a nice stash of bits all secured. All of the harvesting had been finished a few weeks back; barrels were filled, tools stored away, and all the chores that needed to be completed before wintertime were just about done. Off in the distance, a few bright lights and fireworks going off showed that Ponyville was still winding down from another of Pinkie’s parties. At the Apples’ house, though, just a few soft lights were shining and visible through the windows.
Applejack is laying down on all fours on her freshly laundered bed sheets, humming an old family tune (One that, oddly enough, involved little to no mention of Apples or apple-based derivatives) gently to herself. The window is open; the cool fall air drifts into the room with a crispness to it. She looks a little lost in thought, but that doesn’t stop one of her ears from perking up a bit as she hears a wooden plank creak. The old house certainly wasn’t a place for a pony trying to sneak around. Applejack smiles a bit wistfully. One, two, three… she thinks, and then…there it is. She pretends at first not to hear the soft knock at the door.
“Applejack?” a voice whispers hesitantly, and knocks a few times more. “Are ya…ya still awake?”
“C’mon in, Apple Bloom,” she calls out lightly, and turns on the bed so she can face the entryway.
Her little sister, Apple Bloom, slowly pushes open the door. Not so little anymore, her sister had become a fine young mare, still as darling as could be with her colored ribbon holding up her brilliant mane. “Hey, sis,” she speaks up, pausing at the doorway and taking a moment to brush a stray hair back into place. “Ah just figured, the mornin’s gonna be comin’ right soon, and we’ll be so busy packin’ up and…” she stops talking because Applejack has closed her eyes and let out a little chuckle. Apple Bloom grins a little sheepishly, and bats a hoof at one of the floorboards. “Ya knew I was comin’, didn’t ya?”
Applejack opens her eyes and smiles. “Lil’ Sis, ya think I was gonna let ya outta here without a little heart to heart?”
Apple Bloom shakes her head slowly and walks over to the bed. The sisters nuzzle affectionately and Applejack pats the linen covers with her hoof. “Have a seat, sugarcube, and look out that there window. Now, I got a good mind as to what you’re thinkin’ and what you’re gonna ask.”
Apple Bloom interrupts. “It’s just… you know all about Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo’s idea… I think it could really work. We’ve done so much over all the years we’ve known each other. Coming together to earn our cutie marks… I think our friendship is going to lead to even bigger things, but… Fillydelphia…”
“I know,” Applejack smiles, “It’s sure enough a long ways off.”
Apple Bloom turns to look at her sister. “With Granny gone now and…” She pauses, takes a breath, and then she turns away, unable to look Applejack in the eyes. “And Ma and Pa gone…”
Applejack roughs up her little sister’s long mane just a bit. “Ya don’t wanna feel like you’re abandoning the family if you leave.” Apple Bloom nods, a little bit of tear forming at the corners of her eyes.
”Now look, sis,” says the older mare. “I know you never got to see much of Ma and Pa, bein’ so young n’ all when it happened. Ah’d never want to take away the memories you have, but ah thought ah’d add just a bit to ‘em.”
“Ah’ve seen you grown from a little filly worryin’ bout earning her cutie mark to a strong Apple mare with the bucking legs any Apple from Manehattan to Appleloosa’d be sure proud to have. All the strength, determination, and stick-with-it attitude you’ve ever shown is just the sort of thing your Ma would be talkin’ the ears off every pony in Ponyville for havin’. And the way you’ve stuck with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, teachin’ each other and improvin’ and learnin’ lessons together, that’s somethin’ that would’ve done our ol’ Pa proud, you can bet the whole apple farm on that.”
“I don’t want you to go thinkin’ for one second that you could ever disappoint them, me, or Big Mac by wantin’ to pursue your dream, even if it means leaving the farm. You know ah’ve told you a dozen times myself how I never was sure about workin’ here, when ah went off to stay with the Oranges. Big Mac and ah’ll handle things, ‘specially with Twilight and the others bein’ so eager to help so long as,” she grins, “ah remember how t’ask.”
Applejack raises up on her legs, stretches briefly, and hops down off the bed to stand next to the window. Wordlessly, Apple Bloom follows. They look out at the cloudless, starry sky together. The Ponyville party was done; with the lights dimmed it seemed like you could see as far as the best of nights would allow.
Applejack feels a little burst of emotion, but gets it under control. “Ah ain’t told you this before, but ah like t’ think sometimes that those two bright stars a-twinklin’ up there,” she raises a forehoof to point, “are two special someponies keepin’ an eye on the three of us anytime they can.”
Apple Bloom gazes out at the stars.
She feels a weight appear on her head and mane.
She lifts a hoof and realizes it is Applejack’s hat. She turns to her older sister and then the tears really are flowing. She can’t help but rush to Applejack and buries her muzzle in her sister’s mane.
“They loved you so much, so does your brother and so do I,” Applejack lets out softly. “You keep that, now, and remember we’ll be here if you need us.”
The sisters hug, and tears are wiped away.
A minute or so later, Apple Bloom pauses at the doorway.
“Sleep well, Sis.”
“You too.”
The door shuts.