//------------------------------// // Rendezvous // Story: Sweet, Solemn, Sad // by Shingo //------------------------------// Like always, the orchards of Sweet Apple Acres were quiet as Big Macintosh walked through them. Crickets silently chirped around him as fireflies lazily drift in the air. He smiled at the sight, following one make its flight. Nighttime was one of his favourite times to visit the orchards. The silence would help melt away his daytime worries while the crickets and fireflies gave the farm a little touch of beauty that he found was missing while the sun was up. Macintosh shifted the stalk of grain in his mouth as he exited a row of trees. With his walk done, he headed towards his home. Along the way he noticed that one of the rooms had a light on. The window for that room opened up before a long white rope was thrown out of it. Upon closer inspection, Macintosh found that the rope had been made out of multiple bed sheets tied together. A yellow filly on the cusp of adulthood with a red mane and tail climbed out of the window sill. She blew the light out, carefully climbed down her makeshift rope. The filly silently grunted with each part of her descent. Macintosh smirked causing his grain to shift. He stopped a few feet away from the rope, facial expression changing to a neutral tone. The filly fell on her flanks with a dull thud. “Ow,” she said standing. “I need to work on my landings.” The filly turned around and galloped forward with an eager smile on her face. She bumped into Macintosh, falling back on her flanks. “Ow,” she groaned. The filly shook her head. “What did I bump into this…Big Mac!” She stood up, eyes darting back and forth. “What a nice surprise! I didn’t expect to see you out here, even though you go for a nightly walk in the orchards.” Macintosh peered down at his sister. His eyes narrowed slightly. Apple Bloom turned to her rope. “What, this thing?” she asked. “I was, uh… testing out a fire escape plan that I came up with! Yeah, that’s it.” The grain shifted slightly. “That is the truth! I swear!” Apple Bloom’s eyes darted back and forth. “I’m not sneaking out. Why would you think something like that?” Macintosh blew a strand of hair out of his eyes. “That’s crazy! I’m not sneaking out to see somepony, does that seem like something a good filly like me would do?” Apple Bloom blinked. She looked up at her brother with determination burning in her eyes. “Actually no,” she said, stomping her hoof. “I’m not a filly any more, I’m a young mare. As such, I should be free to see whoever I want at whatever time I want. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” Apple Bloom kept a steady gaze on her brother. Macintosh’s expression remained completely blank while his sister’s determination radiated off her. A few moments locked in their staring contest were enough to make Apple Bloom shrink away. “Please don’t tell Applejack.” Macintosh shrugged. He looked away, innocently whistling. Apple Bloom smiled. She walked around him before breaking out into a gallop. “Thanks Mac,” she called. “I’ll be back before sunrise!” The red pony waved at his receding sister. When she disappeared from his sight he entered his home. Macintosh walked through the halls into his kitchen. Inside, he found his other sister sitting at the table with two mugs of cider in front of her. She looked up at him with a smile. “Hey Mac,” she greeted, sliding one of the mugs to him. He caught it and sat down. “Enjoy your walk?” “Eeyup,” he said. “Anything interesting out there tonight?” “Eeyup.” Macintosh sipped from his mug. Applejack chuckled. “Does she still think we don’t know about her sneaking out?” “Nnope.” “Let me rephrase, does she still think I don’t know about her sneaking out? “Eeyup.” “She’s growing up so fast,” Applejack sighed. “I didn’t think she’d start sneaking out so early. I was a few years older than her when I started doing that. How come you never snuck out?” Macintosh grinned. Applejack punched the stallion’s shoulder. “You have to tell me how you managed to get them to come to you.” She paused with a thoughtful expression. “Actually, that explains the random saxophone music I’d hear in the middle of the night.” Macintosh choked on his cider. “What? Didn’t think we could hear you?” Applejack mocked. “It’s a good thing that the music drowned out what you were really doing. Otherwise I’d need therapy.” Macintosh slid down the seat, thankful that his coat hid his blush. “So,” Applejack continued. “How long do we wait until we talk with her? Cause I will admit, her sneaking out like that is kinda adorable.” Macintosh sat back up. He shifted the stalk of grain. “If she’s doing this, she won’t come to us.” Macintosh smiled. He pointed his hoof up to Apple Bloom’s room. A mischievous grin crossed Applejack’s face. “Alright, but I get to play bad cop.”