Applejack let out a stressed sob as she stumbled in front of her parents graves. The tombstone was simple, a cobblestone slab that sat in between two braeburn apple trees. The engravings on the stone read, in simple type:
Mr. Apple Cider and Mrs. Orchard Harvest
Rest In Peace Under The Fruits of Your Labour
Sweet Apple Acres Will Always Remember You
The country pony looked to the fruit trees above, the last ones her Ma and Pop planted before they passed away. A stray leaf fluttered down in front of Applejack, a beautiful shade of green. The apples on the trees were just starting to turn red, harvest time was in a few months. The mare anticipated the annual ritual of picking the braeburns and then baking them into a pie, at remembrance of her parents. The pie would then be eaten, the tin discarded, and the Apples would move on with their lives until a year in advance.
Applejack always loved the ritual, but it was always a little grim and haunting. Her brother had quietly admitted to her one time that he wished they didn't have it, and Apple Bloom was a bit reluctant about eating the pie. Granny Smith was the only Apple who truly appreciated it, she thought it was a good, memorable way to remember her son and daughter-in-law. The elderly mare was torn in pieces when she found out the horrible news.
"Why would they lie to me, Ma?" The exhausted mare whispered, "I had a right to know, she was mah twin sister for pony’s sake! I thought Apples were supposed ta be honest with each other! And to know that Granny and Big Mac have kept this from me, Pop, what do Ah do?"
A lone breeze drifted by, ruffling Applejacks straw blonde mane. She removed her Stetson, holding it close to her heart, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"What do Ah do?"
----
"Applejack!" Cried Twilight as the lavender pony raced across the orchard, searching for her heartbroken friend. She couldn't help but feel responsible for the sudden outburst, having been the one who had wanted to talk to Granny Smith in the first place.
"Where is she?" Twilight muttered to herself, her eye's roaming the many trees. As she continued the hunt for the country mare, she noticed where Applejack had bucked some apple trees in frustration. Bruised apple littered the soil around their bearers, some even appeared to be stomped on.
For as long as Twilight had known Applejack, she had never seen her get so angry as this. But, for her being The Element of Honesty, she could see why this could frustrate her.
After ten minutes more of scanning various apple trees, the lavender pony finally spotted Applejack, crying beside what appeared to be rocks.
"Applejack!" She called, yelling over the landscape, galloping over to her friend, "what in Equestria are you doing out here!?"
"Please Twilight," the country pony sobbed, burying her head into her hooves, "Leave me alone."
"Applejack, I know you're upset, but he least we can do is talk about this," She set a hoof on the sad pony's shoulder, "there was a reason why Big Macintosh and-"
"Don't you DARE bring up mah family right now!" Applejack snapped, turning around to face her friend. "They LIED to me all these years! Ya don't know what it feels like Twi! Ya just don't know!"
"Actually, I do Applejack. It might not have been as severe as something like this, but it was still pretty rough on me. It happened a few weeks after I became Princess Celestia's protégée..."
----
"Don't worry Twily, I'll be back soon," Shining Armor ruffled his little sister's mane, giving her a final hug. "I'm just going to Fillydelphia for a little while, that's all."
"But why can't I come with you?" Twilight looked up at her brother innocently, holding tightly onto his leg. "I'll be good, I promise! I won't play any jokes, or tease you, or-"
The white stallion gave a gentle chuckle, "I'm afraid that's not going to make a difference Twilight. Besides, you need to stay here and learn as much as you can from Princess Celestia!"
The student sighed, "I guess you're right." She frowned, her eyes filling with moisture, "I just won't have anypony to play with, that's all."
"It'll be ok, I'm sure you'll make some new friends that'll be even more fun to hang out with then me!"
Twilight giggled, "No one’s as fun as you!" The filly gave her brother one last hug, "You'll come back soon, right? Promise?"
Shining smiled at his sister sweetly, "I promise."
----
"Months passed, and I started to get worried, he never specified just how long he would be gone." Twilight rested in front of Applejack, telling her story. "I continued my studies with the Princess, but she could tell something was nagging me..."
----
A young filly dozed in a cushy chair at The Royal Library, a thick stack of books on a side table next to her. She had fallen asleep after a hard day of study, and the white alicorn didn't want to wake her. But, her parents would be anxiously awaiting her arrival home for the night. The Sun Princess walked gracefully over to her student and rested a hoof on her shoulder, murmuring softly.
"Twilight, it's time to wake up, you have to go home soon."
The unicorn bolted upright, shaking herself awake.
"Then you must aim your horn at the target and focus all of your energy... Wha? What happened?" She rubbed her eyes blearily, blinking rapidly.
Celestia chuckled, "You fell asleep Twilight, I found you here dozing."
Twilight inhaled sharply and rushed to put the stack of books back in there rightful places, "I'm so sorry Princess Celestia! I was tired and closed my eyes for just a second-"
The ruler held up her hoof, "It's okay my faithful student, there's no need to apologize. Go and get your things while I finish returning these books, and then I’ll escort you home. It's very late." The Princess glanced out of the thin stained glass window, the night sky visible outside.
Twilight sighed, "Okay Princess, thank you." She began to make her way to the exit, dragging her hooves.
"Is something wrong, Twilight?
"Well, its just that... My big brother usually walks me home after my studies, but he's in Fillydelphia right now."
The alicorn began to levitate books to their shelves, "Well I'm very sorry to hear that Twilight, please tell me, what is your brother’s name?"
"Shining Armor, Princess."
"Shining... Armor?" Celestia said thoughtfully, Starswirl The Bearded's Guide for Beginning Unicorns floating in mid-air.
"Is there a problem?" Twilight asked curiously, walking over to her mentor.
"What is your brother’s business in Fillydelphia?" The Princess continued to return volumes to the cases.
"He didn't say, he never said when he would be back either, and I really miss him."
The royal white pony finished her task and retired by the flickering fire.
"I think I know what he’s doing. Have a seat and I’ll explain."
----
"The Princess told me that since Shining Armor had decided to enlist in the Royal Guard and he would be gone for training exercises in Fillydelphia," Twilight's voice faltered, "for two years."
"Fillydelphia?" Applejack questioned, "why wouldn't they just hold the camp in Canterlot? Considering that's where Guard works an' all."
"There’s no room in Canterlot for training exercises, so they had to construct it in Fillydelphia." Twilight sighed, looking to the cloudy sky. "My parents admitted the next day what Princess Celestia had told me, and as you can imagine, I was furious."
The earth pony’s face froze. Her eyes widened, eyebrows lowered, and Twilight was sure she was about to snap at her. Then she started laughing.
“Pfffbwahaha!” She doubled over backwards and fell on the ground, “Aha! Hahahaha!”
The unicorn was stunned. A moment ago Applejack had been crying her eyes out, and now she was laughing like a hyena. ‘Wow, that’s kinda racist,’ she thought. Now tears were beginning to form in Twilight’s eyes. All she had done was try to help!
Applejack was still down on the ground, rolling as she split her sides.
“T-Twi, that’s... That’s... Bwahaha! Er, Ah mean, Ah’m sorry, it’s jus’... Well, yer brother came back to ya eventually, right?” She finally say still, propped up on her elbows.
“Yes...” Twilight said, wondering where she was going.
“An’ Snow Apple, is she comin’ back too?”
“No, she’s dead, why would she..? Oh. OH.” She quickly stepped over and held Applejack’s hoof in hers to help her up, “I am so, so, so sorry! I shouldn’t have said that, I mean, compared to losing a sister forever, it’s like-”
Applejack cut her off. “It’s okay, Twi. Ah know you were only tryin’ to help. Cheer up, Ah’m the one who’s supposed to be sad here, not you!”
The unicorn smiled, "Thanks AJ, I guess I don’t really know what you're going through right now. You must be stressed."
Applejack turned back to the gravestones, touching the one on her left. "Ma always told me to be honest, not just with other ponies, but mahself. That's how she raised me and mah siblings. After this, Ah just don't know who ta trust."
Twilight's eyes caught the slabs, her pupils widening, "Your parents, what were they like? You've never really... talked about them."
"Why d’ya think?" The country pony's voice was very grave.
The librarian dropped her gaze, suddenly becoming interested in a pebble on the ground. "I just... was curious."
The farmer let out a long sigh and turned back to the farmhouse. " Ah, Ah really don't wanna talk about it right now."
Twilight followed her friend cautiously, "I'm sorry Applejack, it'll all turn out ok, I’m sure."
Applejack looked to the grey sky, watching a lone crow fly by, calling to a flock of others ahead. "Ah sure hope so Twilight, Ah sure hope so.”